Around 200 parrots were discovered dead along the banks of the Narmada River in Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh, over the past four days, officials said on Friday. The deaths prompted alarm among local residents and visitors to an aqueduct bridge in the Badwah area, but veterinary post-mortems have ruled out avian influenza.
Parrot deaths in India initial findings
District wildlife warden Tony Sharma said carcasses were found near the bridge and that some birds were alive when rescue teams arrived, but quickly died because of the severity of the suspected poisoning. “The toxicity of the food was so severe that a number of birds succumbed shortly after being rescued,” he said.
Veterinarian Dr Manisha Chauhan, who conducted the post-mortems, reported that the clinical signs and internal examinations pointed to food poisoning, with no indicators consistent with bird flu. Viscera samples were dispatched to laboratories in Jabalpur for further toxicological analysis, officials added.
Local veterinary department officials said material recovered from the birds’ stomachs included rice and small pebbles. Veterinary extension officer Dr Suresh Baghel suggested that improper feeding by visitors — including cooked food and leftovers — may have had fatal consequences. He also cited pesticide exposure in sprayed fields adjacent to feeding sites and ingestion of contaminated river water as contributing factors.
“People often unknowingly feed birds food that proves fatal to their digestive systems,” Dr Chauhan said, urging caution. In response, forest department officials have banned feeding near the aqueduct bridge and deployed staff to the site to enforce the prohibition and prevent further harm.
Teams from the veterinary and forest departments and the wildlife wing have been monitoring the area for four days, following alerts from residents who first raised the alarm. Officials have emphasised that the immediate priority is to determine the precise cause of death through laboratory tests and to reduce the risk to any surviving birds.
Residents expressed concern after the initial discovery as social media and local chatter speculated about a possible bird flu outbreak. Authorities moved quickly to allay public fears by confirming that routine post-mortem procedures found no evidence of avian influenza, a contagious disease with wider public health implications.
Environmental and wildlife experts note that feeding wild birds, even with well-meant intentions, can alter their natural diet and foraging behaviour and increase their risk of ingesting harmful substances. In agricultural areas, food left at riverbanks or in fields can pick up pesticide residues. Similarly, cooked food and leftovers can ferment or contain ingredients unsuitable for avian digestive systems.
The forest and veterinary departments have urged the public to refrain from feeding wild birds and to report any sick or dead animals to authorities. Pending the toxicology results from Jabalpur, officials will continue surveillance and clean-up operations at the site to reduce further exposure risks.
Further updates will be issued once laboratory analyses are complete and authorities establish whether pesticides, contaminated water or other toxins were responsible for the mass deaths.
Key Takeaways:
- Parrot deaths in India: Approximately 200 parrots were found dead on the banks of the Narmada in Khargone; authorities suspect food poisoning.
- Post-mortems ruled out bird flu and viscera samples have been sent to Jabalpur for further testing.
- Feeding bans have been imposed at the site and forest and veterinary teams are monitoring the area.
- Officials point to improper feeding, pesticide exposure and contaminated water as possible causes.
