Himalayan News Service

Biratnagar, June 1:

Officials at the Animal Quarantine Post, Biratnagar, are worried that unchecked entry of birds into the nation through border areas would give rise to bird-flu epidemic. Fearing the outbreak of bird-flu, the government, had urged the quarantine posts to prohibit the import of birds. The checkpost stated that birds were being smuggled into Nepal due to carelessness on the part of the security forces.Chief of the quarantine check-post, Dr Binod Kumar Mallik, said that birds worth millions of rupees have been smuggled into Nepal so far. "Such birds are being sold in many parts of the eastern region, namely Dharan, Biratnagar, Ithari and Birtamod," he said.

Meanwhile, the check-post has suggested the government to deploy RNA personnel along the border. According to a study conducted by the checkpost, birds are being smuggled into Nepal through many transit points. The birds and animals are normally imported from midnight to 4 am. A few months back, the officials had seized 52 unhealthy he-goats while they were being smuggled into Nepal.