Avian Influenza Pandemic: How to Handle the Precious Bird Population?

Ruffed Grouse

Following the “blanket removal” measures for poultry farming, on November 15, Ho Chi Minh City continued to direct households raising ornamental birds to relocate their flocks outside the city or destroy them by November 30. This is a very necessary measure. However, the question arises: how to protect the city’s precious birds?

“If things get strict, I might have to release my 7 starlings back to nature. But if you tell me to relocate them outside the city, I don’t know where to take them. Furthermore, I’m not sure if neighboring provinces like Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Long An will allow me to bring the starlings for temporary shelter,” said Mr. Huynh Van Dau, residing on Truong Son Street, Tan Binh District.

Only a Few Destroyed

Mr. Dau stated that the 7 starlings his family has raised for 3 years are currently under strict protection, not allowed to come into contact with wild birds. Last week, veterinary officials came to encourage relocation, but the family is still hesitant as they do not know where to take them.

Thu Duc District is one of the areas with the highest number of bird-raising households in the city. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Avian Influenza Control Steering Committee, as of November 14, there are still over 80 families raising ornamental birds in this locality, and they are requesting to handle the situation, but the households are still hesitant or hiding birds in their homes. In District 12, last week, authorities destroyed over 100 birds of various types. However, according to an official from the City’s Disease Control Committee, the number destroyed only represents those households that are aware of the pandemic’s dangers and agreed to handle them, while many others still “hide” them at home to cope or want to relocate but do not know where to take them.

Are There Violations of CITES Regulations?

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Ornamental Birds Association, previously, there were about 3,000 ornamental birds raised in households across the city. After an outbreak occurred in 2004, many families released their birds back to nature. As of now, the city has approximately 2,500 birds remaining, divided into 4 groups: ornamental birds (canaries, lovebirds, cinnamon sparrows, goldfinches, red-billed blue magpies…), fighting birds (lyrebirds, blackbirds…), singing birds (fire-backed bulbul, lyrebird, skylark…) and talking birds (starlings, hill mynas, red-whiskered bulbuls…). Among them, singing birds are the most numerous.

Mr. Truong Hoang, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Ornamental Birds Association, stated: “When the avian influenza outbreak first occurred, to protect the city’s ornamental bird population, we advised our members not to hold competitions, not to gather for training sessions. We also intensified sanitation measures and absolutely did not allow contact with wild birds… With the new directive from the city, we will continue to advise them to comply with the spirit: either relocate or destroy.”

On November 16, in a meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City Forestry Department, when comparing with the “List of Rare and Precious Wild Animals issued on April 22, 2002, by the Prime Minister,” we found that many species of ornamental birds being raised in households in Ho Chi Minh City are included in this list. Examples include the black sparrow, yellow sparrow, myna, fire-backed bulbul, oriental white-eye, canary, red-headed parrot… According to the Forestry Department, those listed species are considered “strictly protected” animals. The list issued by Vietnam is based on the list from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), therefore, destroying animals that have not been infected will be very challenging.

A Center for Preserving Precious Birds Should Be Established

Currently, in Ho Chi Minh City, the three main locations with a large number of ornamental birds are the Saigon Zoo, Suoi Tien Amusement Park, and Dam Sen Cultural Park. At these locations, the areas housing birds are now closed, temporarily prohibiting visitors from approaching and are carefully fenced off to avoid contact with wild birds.

Many people suggest that at one of these three locations, the city should establish a center for preserving precious birds, allowing residents to bring their valuable ornamental birds for centralized care, under strict supervision by veterinary authorities during the peak of the outbreak. Subsequently, specific regulations should also be issued regarding the conditions for keeping ornamental birds in households. This approach can both protect the city’s precious bird population and encourage residents to actively cooperate with the authorities in preventing a potential avian influenza outbreak.