Environmentalist Stephen Broadbridge wants a statement from the the Defence Force on the death of 150 corbeaux at the National Heliport, Chaguaramas, on Monday.In a telephone interview, Broadbridge said: "I want a statement from them. They are a protected species. A chemical was misused. The law was broken.
"It was cruel and inhumane and I believe we have laws to protect animals from cruelty. The ecology was endangered and something toxic was introduced into the environment which could have threatened our lives. The birds died close to where they were poisoned, which is where the army is.He added: "We will poison ourselves. Imagine, the corbeaux died on land but some fell in the ocean and the crabs eats it and the fish eat it and ends up in our plates. Somebody will be eating the chemicals."
Broadbridge, of Papa Bois Conservation, said he wanted the Defence Force to make a statement if it wasn't responsible."The birds could not fly far with that poison and they died in one yard. I would like to encourage the public and encourage members of the public that when they have problems please let us know," he said.
Broadbridge said it was possible the birds ate something that contained lanate which he believed caused their death.He added: "I observed them secreting a liquid out of their beaks which is a possible result of ingesting lanate. The EMA (Envirionmental Management Authority) also said the birds were eating other corbeaux and it is a fact that corbeaux don't eat other corbeaux.
Broadbridge said lanate was a toxic substance which was banned in several places because it was a dangerous chemical.It is an insecticide which is toxic if inhaled or swallowed. The maker, Du Pont, also notes that it is very toxic to aquatic organisms."And some here use it to poison dogs. The animal suffers terribly but dies quick," Broadbridge said.He said the Chaguaramas Development Authority was correct to incinerate the birds, since if they had been buried, toxins might have got into the water system.
Defence Force public affairs officer Capt Al Alexander said the birds had frequented that spot for many years.He added: "The birds are accustomed to being there. We don't bother them.The birds were flying about and then falling. We saw them drinking puddles of water and leaving."He said the toxicology report, which had not been received as yet, would be better able to identify from where the poison came.
Environment Minister Ganga Singh said he was awaiting the findings of the EMA and was advised that the veterinary lab at Mt Hope was determining the cause of death.EMA CEO Dr Joth Singh said the EMA was awaiting the results of the tests and the dead birds did not pose a danger to the food chain.Peter Campbell, corporate communication and public relations specialist for the CDA, said investigations were continuing.
In a media release, Campbell said the CDA was satisfied that the carcasses were properly disposed of by incineration.Nalini Dial, head of the animal rights organisation Animals are Human Too, said her group was alarmed and disgusted over the death of the corbeaux.She said: "Recently we witnessed the inhumane killing of 14 dogs by poisoning at St Ann's.
"Last year, we had to bear the needless mass destruction of thousands of leatherback eggs and hatchlings at Grande Riviere. These animals are an endangered specie, and are therefore protected under the law. To date none has been held accountable for that incident."