Dubai: Dead gulls found around International City will be removed by Dubai Municipality, an official told Gulf News on Sunday.
The cause of death has been described as a natural occurrence owing to the bird's scavenging habits. The birds are known to eat decaying plants or animals.
A large number of gulls migrated to the region in December. The flock of up to 10,000 birds is migrating away from the cold temperatures in the western part of the northern hemisphere.
Dr Hashim Ahmad Fahmi, a veterinary expert at the Department of Public Health Veterinary Services at Dubai Municipality, said he expected the gulls to remain here for another 2-3 months.
He added that they were likely to traverse the area between the shoreline in Jebel Ali to the Sewage Treatment Plant and two lakes within International City in Al Aweer.
Botulism
Last year, fewer birds were in Dubai, Fahmi said during an inspection at International City on Sunday.
"There were less dead birds last year. [If the gulls migrate to here] there will be some dead birds especially if they feed on waste which causes botulism," Fahmi said.
Avian botulism, which results from the ingestion of a toxin produced by the bacteria, clostridium botulinum, will ultimately lead to paralysis and death.
A diet of decomposing vegetation and invertebrates, coupled with warm temperatures, can provide ideal conditions for the bacteria to breed and produce toxins.
There are several types of toxins produced by strains of this bacteria. The birds are most vulnerable to type C and, to a lesser extent, type E.
Fahmi said the bacteria could have originated from the sewage treatment plant and waste solids separation plant near International City.
He urged residents not to handle dead birds as they may carry harmful germs.
Fajis Purayil, 28, from India lives in International City and first spotted a couple of dead birds floating on the water of the lake in the residential area two weeks ago. "I never saw them on the shore but I saw couple that were still alive and brought them home. I bought fish to feed them and tried to create a good environment," he said.
"Since my own racing pigeon died, I am a bit worried about touching them now but I can still see about 8 floating on the water. This is the first time I have seen this."
