Daijiworld Media Network - Khargone

Khargone, Jan 2: At least 200 parrots have died along the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district, officials confirmed on Friday, with food poisoning identified as the primary cause.

The dead birds were discovered over the past four days near an aqueduct bridge in the Badwah area. A post-mortem report ruled out bird flu, easing initial fears of a viral outbreak.

District Wildlife Warden Tony Sharma said some parrots rescued during operations succumbed quickly due to the severity of the food toxicity. “The deaths triggered panic, but veterinary examinations confirmed there was no infection,” he added.

The forest department has banned feeding near the bridge and deployed staff to enforce the prohibition strictly. Viscera samples from the birds have been sent to Jabalpur for detailed analysis.

Veterinary officials pointed out that improper diet and food poisoning led to the deaths. Dr. Manisha Chauhan, who conducted the post-mortems, noted symptoms consistent with food poisoning and confirmed the absence of bird flu. Dr. Suresh Baghel, Veterinary Extension Officer, reported rice and small pebbles in the stomachs of the dead parrots.

Officials believe that feeding cooked or leftover food to the birds, exposure to pesticides from sprayed fields, and contaminated water from the Narmada River contributed to the fatalities. Teams from the veterinary, forest, and wildlife departments have been monitoring the area since local residents raised alarms.

Authorities have urged people to refrain from feeding birds with unsafe food to prevent further casualties and protect the local wildlife population.