Hundreds Of Birds Found Dead In Lampang And Phayao

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Hundreds of birds found dead in Lampang and Phayao

Cold snap suspected culprit

Thaweerat Pensalaphan and CMM online reporters

The recent unseasonal cold snap is the suspect in the deaths of hundreds of swiftlets that were found dead in Lampang and Phayao Provinces.

On March 18, dozens of birds were found dead in Tambon Ban Sa, Jaehorm district, Lampang by villagers. They reported that they looked like they had died from the cold.

The swiftlets are under the country’s wildlife protection and preservation law as one of endangered species.

The villagers said the swiftlets had migrated and come to live in the rich, green and fertile mountain forests near the village for more than 3 weeks. They said each year in summer the birds migrate there.

Villagers collected bodies to send to the Provincial Livestock Office to test further on the cause of death.

The weather in 13 districts of Lampang was very cold with temperatures dropping to 14-16 C on the low flat lands and to 10 C in the hills and mountainous areas.

Phayao residents also reported that hundreds of swiftlets were found lying dead and samples were also sent to the Provincial Livestock Office to make certain that Bird Flu is not the cause of death.

On March 19, Aree Tanbanchong, Chief of the Phayao Public health Office, said she was coordinating with the Provincial Livestock Office to collect samples to determine cause of death. Officials initially assumed that the rapid change of weather might be the cause of their deaths.

[chiangmaimail]2011-03-24[/chiangmaimail]