Sindh Wildlife Minister, Dr Daya Ram, refuted the claims appeared recently in news media over the killings of huge number of Thar peacocks, saying that there were only 38 birds perished due to the viral castle disease. Giving explanation on the Sindh Assembly floor on Wednesday, the minister said there an estimated 70,000 peacocks are in the province's wilds, of which 30, 000 have been vaccinated against the disease.
He said the wetlands in Tharparkar district have dried up because the weak monsoon season, as rains this year remained in dearth, which weakened ultimately the immune system of peacocks leaving them to expose to the Castle disease. Daya Ram informed the house that there is no vaccination to heal viral disease. However, the affects of the sickness could be scaled down. He said the WWF-Pakistan will evolve its independent report on the killings of peacocks in 10 days which the fund will handover to the department. He said the Sindh Wildlife Department is providing treatment to some 30 sick peacocks at present, and urged the people if they had any information about the disease affected birds let the department know.
The minister said it is difficult for the department to vaccinate 70, 000 birds in the wild, but making efforts to control the disease from spread. He said the department is also carry out an awareness programme in this connection. He made it clear that his department has no funds or vaccination for treatment of wildlife. He said 30,000 vaccinations were given to department by the Sindh Veterinary Department to treat the sick birds. Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League (Likeminded), legislator, Abdul Razz Rahimon raised the issue of peacocks killings in the Thar desert and urged the government to step up to protect the wild birds from extinction.