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KUALA LUMPUR, Sat To achieve a "bird-free"
zone around Kampung Pasir Wardieburn, the Veterinary Services
Department tonight resorted to a rather unconventional method —
a blowpipe.
Mohd Ulang Tipak, an Orang Asli from Gombak who is a VSD
employee, was asked to test the efficiency of a blowpipe on
chickens hiding in trees, using darts with tips laced with an
anaesthetic.
However, the anaesthetic, which was a combination of medicine
strong enough to knock out horses, proved ineffective.
"We had to
chase the chickens which fell from the trees until the
medicine took effect. We only managed to catch five or six, as
there were times when I missed. Also, I did not know there would
be so many chickens here and prepared only a few darts."
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The 43-year-old Orang Asli said he needed help from two or three
more of his friends to get the work done.
Ulang, though, may not get the opportunity as it is understood
that the VSD is set to use small-calibre rifles tomorrow to
flush the birds from the trees.
Meanwhile, starting as early as 7.30am, 40 swab teams swung into
action for the third day to take fowl samples outside the one-kilometre
radius. Starting from the Veterinary Management Institute in
Kajang, the teams, made up of five members each, set out to
collect cloacal swabs from chickens, geese, ducks and other
birds.
One such team was Team 2 led by Ghazali Awang Mel, 40. His team
comprised three members from the Terengganu VSD and two
Universiti Putra Malaysia Veterinary Faculty students. |
"This is our third day out, and we have to say that the owners
have all been very co-operative in allowing us to take samples
from their fowls," he said.
Among the places his team covered today were Kampung Baru, Jalan
Abdullah Yasin, Jalan Sungai Baru, Jalan Raja Abdullah and Jalan
Raja Alang.
"We managed to take 31 samples today. We will send them to the
institute to be tested."
Their last stop was KLCC, but no swabs were taken as there were
no bird shops in the complex.
Veterinary Services Department’s disease control unit head Dr
Kamaruddin Mat Isa said the results of the tests would be known
within two to three days. |
