- BANGKOK (AP) -- Hundreds
of storks at two bird sanctuaries outside Bangkok have died of bird flu,
but there are no plans to destroy the wildlife in the area, officials said
Tuesday.
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- Some 500 open-billed storks were found dead in Ladkrabang
district and 300 birds had died at the Bueng Borapet wetland since January
27, Prapat Panyachatraksa, the minister of natural resources and environment,
said.
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- Laboratory tests found 30 per cent to 40 per cent of
the dead storks were infected with bird flu virus, he said.
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- Mr Prapat said he has ordered a ban on all visitors to
the two sanctuaries and that the situation was being monitored closely.
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- But there are no plans to destroy the remaining storks
and other birds in the area, said another official in the ministry, speaking
on condition of anonymity.
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- "We have destroyed the dead birds and sprayed the
areas with disinfectant but we will not destroy the living birds,"
he said.
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- He said Bung Borapet wetland surrounding a huge lake
is home to more than 100,000 birds of various species, of which 40,000
are storks. About 80,000 storks live in Ladkrabang district.
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- The Associated Press
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- Copyright 2003 News Limited.
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- http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8710309%255E1702,00.html
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