Bird flu outbreak.

Outbreak of bird flu in pheasant flock near Clonakilty, Co Cork, Ireland

THE Department of Agriculture has confirmed an outbreak of avian flu in a small flock of pheasants near Clonakilty, Co Cork..

Preliminary results show the H5 strain is not the most pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus with further tests being carried out.

As a precautionary measure, the 100 birds on the affected premises are being slaughtered.

And in line with EU regulations, a 1km temporary restriction zone has been put in place around the premises.

The department also noted that there are no concerns relating to the consumption of poultry meat or poultry meat products and there are no restrictions on poultry movements outside the zone.

While the Department has ruled out the most highly pathogenic strain of Avian Influenza in this case, they persons having contact with birds should nonetheless ensure that appropriate biosecurity measures are in place, as set out in Government guidelines.

They advise that birds should be checked regularly and if an unusually high number of sick or dead animals are noticed they should notify their Regional Veterinary Office. Source

Dolphin death mystery

TWO more dead dolphins have been found in the Mandurah estuary.

One of the dolphins was found near Parkridge on the weekend of the Crab Fest.

The cause of the adult female’s death is not known. A blubber sample was sent to Murdoch University for analysis.

The deaths follow carcasses of a mother dolphin and calf found at the Novara boat ramp in December.

Post-mortem results from the mother were inconclusive, but Murdoch University pathologist for the marine mammal project Nahiid Stephens suspects they died from birth complications.

Sea Bird Rescue volunteer Craig Lester suspects that dolphins are dying from eating contaminated fish.

“My investigations point to pesticides and heavy metals such as lead and cadmium as the culprits,” he said.

“These substances have built up in the estuary over many years and they are impossible to remove from the environment.”

Ms Stephens said there was no funding to check for contaminants during autopsies of dead dolphins.

She said the molecular work for one dolphin would cost several thousand dollars. Source

Grizzly deaths on the increase in B.C. along with threats to habitat: report

A total of 381 grizzly bears were killed year in B.C., 87 per cent of them by trophy hunters, according to statistics released Friday by the David Suzuki Foundation.

The figures include grizzlies killed by conservation officers due to threats to people and property, poaching, and collisions with cars, trains, and other vehicles.

The foundation said the 381 grizzlies killed in 2011 - almost one-third of them females - compare with a 30-year average of 340 grizzlies killed and a high of 443 in 2007.

Faisal Moola, the foundation's director of terrestrial conservation, said the increase in grizzly deaths occurs while the species' habitat is at risk from massive private-sector development projects.

He cited Enbridge's planned Northern Gateway dual-pipeline project running from Alberta to Kitimat on B.C.'s north coast, Taseko's New Prosperity resubmitted gold-copper mine proposal at Fish Lake in the

Chilcotin, and the recently approved Jumbo Glacier Resort in the East Kootenay. Read More