A great number of crows had been killed in Lang Khair Shah area, some 30km from here during the current month due to unknown reasons. Speculations were that this large-scale killing might have been the result of pesticides used by the hunters while they go for fishing in the nearby Indus River.
"These birds roam around the river side all the day and feed all the stuff including insects, little fishes and frogs which were infected by this deadly pesticides," resident of area Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah, told APP on May 31.
However a non-governmental organisation working for conserving flora and fauna of the area and running UNDP-GEF funded project, ORDR was of the view that viral infection could also be the cause of killing of the crows, which are known to be human friendly.
Previously the same phenomenon happened to the vultures, which caused massive killing of these birds and led them to the verge of extinction.
Once found in abundance, now hardly a vulture is seen up in the sky. Syed Nazir Hussain Shah, working with ORDR said crows and vulture consumed those ingredients or agents that could pose threat to human.
He called for concerted efforts to stop this epidemic, saying extinction of crows and vulture did not augur well for the people as it may confront the human population with certain health related problems.
Meanwhile local people demanded of complete restraint from pesticides for fishing purposes, which kill the rest of species found in and or around its range.
Government had strictly banned the use of pesticide in the river however its implementation needs to be ensured in true letter and spirit.