Forest department’s bid to save Pahadi Mynah (gracula religiosa) through captive regeneration suffered yet another jolt as one of the four mynah, Krishna, kept in a large cage on the campus of Geedam Road located Forest School died recently of inflammation in her intestine sending shock waves among birds conservationists.
Dr Mausam Mehra of District Veterinary hospital said that Krishna was found dead in the large cage kept under a saal tree. According to post mortem report, she died due to inflammation of intestine caused by viral infection.
Notably, in the Geedam Road located Forest School a bird breeding centre was established two decades ago with a view to revive the species of Pahadi Mynah, facing extinction, through captive breeding.
Initially six Mynah were kept in the Centre. One of the mynah fell prey to a snake while the rest died one after another without giving birth to any young one. Again after some interval mynah were brought to the breeding centre from forests. From the very beginning two care takers have been appointed in the centre which also visited by veterinary doctors regularly.
lately, Nandi had been brought here seven years ago while three others, Pakhi, Arya and Krishna were brought to the centre two and half years ago. Till the death of Krishna it was not known which mynah was male and which was female. As in the post mortem ovary was found in Krishna’s abdomen, only then it became clear that it was female.
According to Dr Mehra, tap worm and round worm pose danger to avions. Therefore deworming is done every month. Dr Mehra said due to presence of worms bird becomes weak and even dies if number of worms increase disproportionately.
Meanwhile, to save them from heat these rare birds are given water containing electral powder whereas in meal they are given pomegranate, grapes, banana and sattu (flour of gram). Dr Sameer Sharma and Dr Mausam Mehra regularly visit the centre to check their health. Unfortunately not a single mynah has been hatched till date in the centre.