Another massive fish-kill reported in southern India's Periyar River

INDIA - For the second time in a week, massive fish deaths were reported from Pathalam belt in river Periyar, triggering alarm and protests.

Dead fish were found in bunches on the banks of river on Saturday morning. The local residents and councillors of Kadungalloor panchayat alerted the district Pollution Control Board officials who came and collected the samples of water and fish. Local residents, fishermen, panchayat members and green activists of Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi (PMVS) blocked the PCB officials when they came to collect the samples, in protest against the negligent attitude of the authorities in checking continuing fish deaths. Later, police arrested the group of protesters led by panchayat members Joshy, Shiney Sajan, Geetha Sunil, Kabeer, Sudha Devi and activists of PMVS, Anwar C.I., Sainudeen Edayar and Mahesh.

According to environmental experts, low level or absence of oxygen is the major reason for the recurring fish deaths in Periyar. A similar incident was reported on last Monday on the banks of river Periyar. Earlier, on May 3, fish deaths were reported on the banks of river Muttar, a tributary of Periyar. As per the report of the Pollution Control Board, the fish deaths were caused by lack of dissolved oxygen in river water and by entry of polluted water containing decayed waste into the river. –Deccan Chronicle

Two thousand dead birds found along 6 km stretch of Chilean beach

CHILE – About 2,000 birds were found dead on beaches in central Chile, a natural history museum director said Friday, accusing fishermen of snagging them in their nets and letting them drown. CNN reports the number of dead birds could be as high as 2300. “It’s a horrible scene. They are spread across some six kilometers (four miles) of beach” around the coastal city of Santo Domingo, San Antonio natural history and archeology museum director Jose Luis Brito told UCV radio.

Most of the birds are gray petrels, but there are also pelicans, gannets and Guanay cormorants. Brito accused fishermen of “doing nothing when birds get caught up in their nets, and leaving them to drown before throwing the bodies back into the sea.” The museum said it would file a complaint to police over the dead birds. About 100 bird carcasses were found on central beaches on Sunday. Thousands of dolphins and maritime birds, including many pelicans, have been found dead in neighboring Peru in recent weeks. Environmental groups blamed oil exploration work, but Peru’s deputy environment minister Gabriel Quijandria, disputed the claim and said warming waters, which disturbs food supplies, was a possible cause. –Physics