In an effort to revive the population of vultures that has sharply gone down over the past 10 to 15 years in the country, a sanctuary for the species is being established in Nagarparkar, where the

Kerala has banned entry of poultry from other states following detection of avian influenza (bird flu) in a government farm at Hessarghatta, outside Bangalore.

Following an intimation in this regard from the Karnataka, the state Animal Husbandry Department banned movement of poultry from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu since last evening, sources said on Tuesday. Avian influenza was detected in turkey and chicken in a farm of the Central Poultry Development Organization, where the H5N1 virus claimed over 3,600 turkeys last fortnight. The affliction was confirmed by tests of samples conducted at the high Security Animal Health Laboratory in Bhopal, the sources said.

Samples of blood, bird droppings collected from four places

With the outbreak of avian influenza at the Central Poultry Development Organisation at Hesaraghatta, near Bangalore, the authorities on Sunday launched extensive surveillance in and around four places in Mandya that attract migratory birds.

As many as 120 chicken died on Sunday and 86 chicken and 17 ducks on Saturday

Over 220 chicken and ducks have died at Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) at Hesaragatta here, where avian influenza (H5N1) had claimed over 3,600 turkeys over the last fortnight. “Mortality among the chicken and ducks are also reported from CPDO,” secretary in the Animal Husbandry Department, Arvin Ramachandra Jannu, said. As many as 120 chicken died yesterday and 86 chicken and 17 ducks on Saturday.

MPs have voted against the government's policy of culling badgers in two pilot schemes in England.

It follows a highly-charged debate led by backbenchers in the Commons.

Twelve peacocks have died of a mysterious disease at an outhouse-turned park of landlord Ch. Arshad Ali in village Mundeyki Goraya during the last week.

Bhaktapur District Administration Office has declared Bode of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, bird-flu emergency area.

The H5N1 avian flu virus has been detected in the city of Zhanjiang in South China's Guangdong province, experts confirmed on Tuesday.

The first licence allowing farmers to shoot badgers in an attempt to reduce cattle TB is to be issued on Monday.