Authorities step up after mysterious deaths of domestic geese in Wular Lake

Bandipora, Nov 11: The sudden deaths of around 20 domestic geese along the banks of Wular Lake in the Saderkote Payeen area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora District have prompted swift action from authorities. The District Animal Husbandry Office is investigating the cause of these deaths, with officials suspecting Rani Khet disease as the possible culprit.
District Animal Husbandry Officer, Bandipora, G A Lone, told Rising Kashmir that initial findings point towards Rani Khet, a disease common in poultry that can severely affect birds’ respiratory systems and be fatal if untreated. “We have sent samples for analysis to understand more about this disease. It appears to be a local disease, not viral, so the risk of it spreading remains minimal,” Lone said, adding that the situation is currently under control.
To prevent further losses, the department has urgently requested vaccines. “We’ve demanded vaccines urgently to help protect any remaining birds in the area,” Lone noted. The Animal Husbandry team confirmed the deaths after a site inspection, reporting about 20 deceased geese.
Despite concerns about the impact on Wular Lake’s migratory birds, Lone said the disease is less likely to spread to these species.
“Rani Khet mainly affects domestic birds. There’s always a chance of contact between domestic and migratory birds, but cross-species transmission is unlikely,” he explained. Still, officials are keeping a close watch on the situation.
The department has also launched an awareness campaign for bird owners, advising them to limit their birds’ movement and keep them enclosed. “We’ve instructed bird owners to take precautions and keep their birds in safe, enclosed spaces to prevent any risk of spread,” Lone said.
No additional bird deaths have been reported, and monitoring will continue. The Animal Husbandry Department aims to have the issue resolved before the arrival of large numbers of migratory birds. “We will keep monitoring for any signs of further outbreaks and keep residents informed about prevention measures,” Lone added, stressing the importance of protecting both local and migratory bird populations.