Deadly disease kills 12 Markhors in Chitral
Experts attribute deforestation, use of fertiliser for the infection.
GILGIT:
A deadly epidemic in Chitral has killed at least a dozen young Markhors, officials said on Friday.
“The number of deaths reported is 12 and the dead Markhors are quite young – about nine months old,” Imtiaz, a senior official of the wildlife department in Chitral, told The Express Tribune by phone.
He said that the disease was not unusual and some deaths had occurred earlier but this time, more Markhors had fallen prey.
“This happens when the habitat of the Markhors is disturbed due to deforestation,” he explained, adding that another reason for the spread could be fertilisers. “There are chances that these young Markhors got infected as they ate fertilised crops,” he said.
The official said that they had the bodies examined in a lab to determine the disease. “It’s called ‘foot-and-mouth’ disease. Small pimples appear in and around the corners of mouth,” he said. The animal carcasses have been left in the wild for predators to eat, he said.
He said that the Markhors found in Chitral are known as the Kashmiri Markhor. “They can be spotted along the west bank of Kunar River between Shogore and Arandu and Drosh on its eastern bank. They can also be seen along tributaries of the Matuj River as far as Barenis,” he said.
Kashmir Markhore is one of the most precious wild animals whose price in the international market is over $80,000, which means that Chitral stands to lose up to $9.6 million.
“Diseases are transmittable and sheep and animal herds carry the risk of spreading the disease,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2011.
A deadly epidemic in Chitral has killed at least a dozen young Markhors, officials said on Friday.
“The number of deaths reported is 12 and the dead Markhors are quite young – about nine months old,” Imtiaz, a senior official of the wildlife department in Chitral, told The Express Tribune by phone.
He said that the disease was not unusual and some deaths had occurred earlier but this time, more Markhors had fallen prey.
“This happens when the habitat of the Markhors is disturbed due to deforestation,” he explained, adding that another reason for the spread could be fertilisers. “There are chances that these young Markhors got infected as they ate fertilised crops,” he said.
The official said that they had the bodies examined in a lab to determine the disease. “It’s called ‘foot-and-mouth’ disease. Small pimples appear in and around the corners of mouth,” he said. The animal carcasses have been left in the wild for predators to eat, he said.
He said that the Markhors found in Chitral are known as the Kashmiri Markhor. “They can be spotted along the west bank of Kunar River between Shogore and Arandu and Drosh on its eastern bank. They can also be seen along tributaries of the Matuj River as far as Barenis,” he said.
Kashmir Markhore is one of the most precious wild animals whose price in the international market is over $80,000, which means that Chitral stands to lose up to $9.6 million.
“Diseases are transmittable and sheep and animal herds carry the risk of spreading the disease,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2011.