INVESTIGATION:Taitung
agricultural researchers said someone might have illegally used insufficiently
diluted carbofuran — some types of which were banned on Jan. 1
By
Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA
A
powerful pesticide is to blame for the death of an estimated 1,200 birds in
Beinan Township (卑南), the Taitung County Animal
Disease Control Center said on Wednesday.
The mass
bird mortality, which occurred on Jan. 5 and 6, was first reported on Facebook
by an organic farmer, who said that others in the area might be poisoning the
birds.
The
report sparked concern among local and national conservation groups, including
the Taitung Wild Bird Society and the Taiwan Association for Falconry Culture
and Raptor Conservation.
An
examination found that rice in the stomachs of the birds contained high
residual levels of carbofuran, one of the most toxic pesticides available on
the market, which was ruled to be the cause of death, the center said in a
statement.
A subtype
of carbamate pesticides, carbofuran is most commonly used to control insects at
newly planted rice or vegetable fields, the center said.
Officials
did not rule out the possibility of intentional poisoning and the Seventh
Special Police Corps was advised to investigate the incident, Taitung
Department of Agriculture Director Hsu Jui-kui (許瑞貴) said.
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