This winter has not been good for the Kurjan or the Demoiselle crane which migrates thousands of kilometres from freezing Central Asia to find an abode of warmth in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district. This year, in addition to getting entangled in electric wires, the migratory bird has also fallen victim to the rapidly spreading H5N1 bird flu.
Due to the bird flu spreading in the Degaray Oran and Mohangarh areas of Jaisalmer district, 33 Kurjan birds have died so far. The first death of the bird was recorded on January 11 and the most recent death was confirmed yesterday, on January 20 near Chhodiya village in Degaray Oran.
It is worth noting that these birds migrate from countries like China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, travelling a distance of about 4,000 kilometres to spend nearly six months in places such as Lathi, Khetolai, Delasar, Dholia, Lohata, Chacha, Degaray Oran and other areas in Jaisalmer.
On January 17, residents in Bankalsar village were up for a disturbing surprise when they witnessed 14 of these birds falling mid-air and dying upon hitting the ground.
Dr. Umesh Vrungtivar, Joint Director of the Animal Husbandry Department in Jaisalmer, informed DTE that samples of the dead birds from Bankalsar have been sent to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NISHAD) laboratory in Bhopal and the report is expected within the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, the samples sent from Degaray confirmed the infection of H5N1 bird flu. The carcasses found in Luneri pond in Degaray also tested positive for H5N1 avian flu. The dead birds are being buried following the full protocol.
“Chemical spraying is being carried out at the infected locations to prevent the spread of the virus. Following this, the Quick Response Team (QRT), along with officials from the Animal Hospital, Medical Department, Forest Department, and Revenue Department, have been fully alerted,” Vrungtivar told DTE.
Meanwhile, when DTE dialled up Ashutosh Ojha, the Deputy Conservator of Forests in the area, he declined to comment on the issue citing a hectic work schedule.
Although reports from the Animal Husbandry and Forest Departments suggest that avian flu is the cause of these deaths, several local environmentalists believe there might be other factors involved.
Some officials from the Animal Husbandry Department, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that the unusually high rainfall in Jaisalmer this year could be a contributing factor. The rains have created several new water bodies, and it’s possible that these areas contain some toxic elements in the food available to the birds, leading to their deaths.
On the other hand, Parth Jagani, a local resident and keen observer of the environmental changes in Jaisalmer, has a different opinion.
He explained, “This is not the first time Kurjans have died in January. Over the past few years, there has been a pattern of Kurjan deaths being reported throughout the district in this month. This could possibly be because this is the time when pesticides are sprayed on the fields. Kurjans often visit chickpea fields to feed on the leaves, and the farmers spray pesticides on those very leaves. It’s possible that the birds are dying after consuming these pesticide-laden leaves.”
Radheshyam Pemani, an environmental conservationist working in the district, echoes Jagani’s opinion and added, “In Jaisalmer, khedeen farming is practiced, where water is stored to maintain moisture and then crops like mustard and chickpeas are grown. The migratory Demoiselle Cranes usually stay near such waterlogged areas. The distance between these ponds and the fields is very short. According to available data, in 2024, nine cranes died, in 2023, 11, and in 2022, six Kurjans died in Jaisalmer.”
Pemani raises another question — “Bird flu is a rapidly spreading virus that can affect a large number of birds in a short period of time, but that is not happening in Jaisalmer. Every year, a few Kurjans are dying, which seems to follow a set pattern. This raises the question: why are these migratory Kurjans dying every January between September and March in Rajasthan? That’s why we demand that the authorities should focus not only on bird flu but also on other aspects.”
“The birds’ food and water sources should be thoroughly examined,” he demanded.
Meanwhile, the supposed outbreak of bird flu in Jaisalmer district has also posed a threat to Rajasthan’s state bird, the Great Indian Bustard.
As a result, the Forest Department is taking special precautions. Ashish Vyas,a senior forest official in Jaisalmer, informed DTE that they are strictly following the guidelines issued by the Animal Husbandry Department and the state government.
“As a precautionary measure, they have imposed a ban on the entry of outsiders into the area. Additionally, the Godawan breeding centers in Sam and Ramdevra have also been closed to public access, with staff allowed entry only following the full protocol,” Vyas stated.