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Animals

13 December, 2025

Last week, the municipality of Getafe (in Madrid, Spain) became the scene of an alarming discovery: hundreds of storks were found dead in the Manzanares River. In just four days, firefighters and forest agents removed more than 400 specimens, although figures vary according to sources.

• Firefighters: estimate around 500 dead birds.
• Environmental Department: confirms 409 specimens.

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In any case, the magnitude of the event has generated concern among both authorities and the local population.

State of the birds and initial investigations

According to emergency teams, the storks were in different states:

• Some had died recently.
• Others were in a state of decomposition.
• Several showed signs of having been bitten by scavenging animals.

The carcasses were removed and transported by an authorized company to a processing plant, where they were destroyed. Meanwhile, some specimens were sent to laboratories for autopsies and virological analyses.

Confirmation of avian flu

The Department of Environment, Agriculture, and Interior confirmed that it is a avian flu outbreak. Analyses conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that it corresponds to a low pathogenicity variant, which initially does not require notification of the outbreak.

However, the Madrid government decided to apply preventive measures typical of high pathogenicity outbreaks, including:

• Prohibition of raising ducks and geese alongside other poultry.
• Restriction of outdoor poultry farming.
• Limitation of visits to poultry facilities.
• Control of water supply to prevent contamination.

Authorities noted that if new studies confirm a high pathogenicity variant, the outbreak will be officially declared.

Risk of contagion and protection measures

Among firefighters, there is some concern about the lack of information on the risk of contagion. The Community of Madrid maintains that the risk is very low, as human transmission of the H5N1 virus has only been observed in exceptional cases after close contact with infected animals.

The Department clarified that:

• Avian flu can be transmitted to humans through mucous membranes, with effects similar to seasonal flu.
• No cases of transmission through direct contact have been reported in Europe.
• The consumption of poultry-derived products does not pose a risk of contagion.

Firefighters worked with high-protection suits, similar to sanitary PPEs, although the risk can never be completely ruled out.

Institutional response

The Getafe City Council was the first to raise the alarm, although it has not yet received official notification of the final analysis results.

If high pathogenicity is confirmed, the Community of Madrid will notify the Veterinary Health Alert Network (Rasve) and will strengthen communication and surveillance measures in the affected municipalities, as well as in the forest agent bodies and the Seprona.

The discovery of more than 400 dead storks in Getafe highlights the vulnerability of wild birds to avian flu and the need to implement strict preventive measures. Although initial analyses point to a low-danger variant, the Community of Madrid has chosen to act cautiously, reinforcing controls and protocols to prevent the spread of the virus and protect both wildlife and the population.

Daily Sun Report, Dhaka

Published: 12 Dec 2025, 07:02 PM

Photo: Daily Sun

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The rapidly increasing indiscriminate hunting of birds across Bangladesh has become a major catastrophe for the country’s biodiversity, environment and ecosystem.

To protest this alarming situation, a photowalk, birdwatching session and local awareness programme was organised on Friday, at Newvision Ecocity, near Kalatia in Keraniganj by wildlife photographers, birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

Participants from different walks of life joined the event with the goal of raising awareness among local communities about the devastating impacts of bird hunting.

During the programme, they observed more than 50 species of birds, including Black Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cormorants, various species of Warblers, Baya Weavers, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Brahminy Kite, and many others.

They also demanded effective initiatives to stop rampant bird hunting across the country.

According to the organisers, from migratory birds like the Greylag Goose to local species like the Night Heron and Black Bittern, none are safe from hunters anymore.

If birds are unsafe even in Dhaka city, the situation in remote regions is far more terrifying.

Sylhet, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Kurigram, Naogaon, Natore, Sirajganj, Pabna, Chattogram, and almost every region of the country are witnessing a surge in bird hunting.

Environmentalists fear that without immediate national-level intervention, environmentally vulnerable Bangladesh will move toward faster ecological collapse.

Tareq Anu, world traveler and member of Bangladesh Bird Club, said, “Hunting wild birds means harming ourselves. The day birds disappear from the Earth, humans will follow. Let’s stop bird hunting together.”

Adnan Azad, convener of Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association (BAWA), said, “Indiscriminate killing of birds and wildlife is equivalent to destroying nature. Both local and migratory birds are our natural assets—they must be protected.”

Documentary filmmaker of “Birds of Dhaka: The Sky is Shrinking” and NatSave General Secretary Asker Rusho, said, “From my early childhood I saw many hunting incidents, but after started bird photography, my perspective changed completely. In rural areas, hunting has become epidemic, if we do not work together now, hunters will wipe out Bangladesh’s birds.”

Founder of Bird Life of Bengal Nisorg Ami, said, “People are becoming more educated and urbanized—yet bird hunting is not decreasing. If the last bird disappears, nothing will remain but regret.”

Wildlife photographer Siamiyat Khan Ziko (Chalan Beel region) said, “In Pabna, Sirajganj, and Natore, bird hunting has reached alarming levels. Law enforcement and local involvement are essential.”

Admin of Bangladesh’s largest bird photography group Birds Bangladesh, Shahriar Kabir Rushdi, said, “Nets, guns, poison-baits, glue—everything is being used. From Haor area to Coastal belt, nowhere the birds are safe. We have laws, but no implementation. In addition to stopping bird hunting, we must also be vocal about stopping the use of electric nets to protect crops.”

To protect the environment and future generations, public awareness, enforcement of law, community participation, and national resistance are now urgently required to stop bird hunting.