Cholera killing off cormorants
08/10/2004 20:51  - (SA)  

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Group to tackle avian cholera Thousands of cormorants die

Cape Town - An outbreak of avian cholera has killed thousands of Cape cormorants on Dyer Island, a prime breeding spot for the threatened sea birds, a few kilometres east of Gansbaai on the southern Cape coast.

Conservation authorities have described the outbreak as a severe blow to their efforts to safeguard the bird population on the 20ha island.

According to Cape Nature Conservation official Deon Geldenhuys, between 5 000 and 6 000 birds have died out of about 70 000.

He said on Friday it was the third breeding season in a row disease had struck the breeding colonies on the island.

Avian cholera was "host specific" and had little effect on other species of birds.

The cause was not known and was being investigated, said Geldenhuys.

According to a statement on Friday, CNC is trying to contain the spread of the disease by removing the dead birds from the breeding colonies and burning them.

"There is no known cure for the disease, and dead birds can harbour the bacteria in their bodies for up to three months after dying."

- SAPA

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