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๐๏ธ Silent Skies Over Rajasthan: Avian Flu Claims Migratory Cranes
H5N1 Outbreak and Mysterious Deaths of Demoiselle Cranes in Jaisalmer, 2025
๐ Recent Bird Deaths Raise Alarms
Since January 11, 2025, the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan has reported the death of 33 Demoiselle cranes (locally known as Kurjan):
- ๐๏ธ First death: January 11
- ๐๏ธ Most recent: January 20
- ๐ฆ Linked to an outbreak of H5N1 and H591 avian flu strains
๐ฆข The Great Journey: Demoiselle Crane Migration
Every winter, Demoiselle cranes migrate over 4,000 km from:
China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan โ Rajasthan, India
๐ They settle for six months in traditional wintering sites like Lathi and Degaray Oran, making Jaisalmer their seasonal home.
This year, however, the birds face dual threats:
- Bird flu infections
- Collisions with electric wires
๐ Know the Demoiselle Crane
- ๐ Native to Central Eurosiberia, from the Black Sea to Northeast China
- ๐ชน Breeds in Turkey and migrates seasonally
- โ๏ธ One of the highest-flying migratory birds in the world
๐ฌ Testing and Confirmation
After 14 cranes mysteriously fell from the sky in Bankalsar village:
- Samples were sent to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases
- Confirmed infections: H5N1 and H591 avian influenza strains
โ ๏ธ Environmentalists also suspect toxins or environmental stressors may be contributing.
๐งช Recurring Deaths: A Pattern Emerges
Demoiselle crane deaths in Jaisalmer have become an annual tragedy:
- 2022: 6 deaths
- 2023: 11 deaths
- 2024: 9 deaths
- 2025: 33 deaths (and counting)
๐ Suspected causes:
- โ ๏ธ Pesticide poisoning: Birds feeding on chickpea crops sprayed with chemicals
- ๐ Toxic water: Temporary ponds from heavy rains may contain harmful elements
๐ก๏ธ Government Actions and Biosecurity Measures
๐จ Quick Response Teams (QRTs) from multiple departments are on the ground:
- Dead birds are safely buried with biosecurity protocols
- Chemical disinfection of affected areas
- Monitoring of nearby wetland ecosystems
๐ฆค A Threat to the Great Indian Bustard
โ ๏ธ The outbreak threatens Rajasthanโs state bird, the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB).
- ๐๏ธ Breeding centers at Sam and Ramdevra have been closed
- โ Public entry restricted in affected zones
- ๐งฌ Monitoring is ongoing to prevent spillover to GIB habitats