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Health considerations of the rehabilitation of illegally traded houbara bustards Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii in the Middle East

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Tom Bailey ,
Christu-Das Silvanose ,
Jesus Naldo ,
Olivier Combreau ,
Frederic Launay ,
Ulrich Wernery ,
Joerg Kinne ,
Richard Gough  and
Ruth Manvell
Christu-Das Silvanose
Affiliation:
Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, National Avian Research Center, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Jesus Naldo
Affiliation:
Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, National Avian Research Center, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Olivier Combreau
Affiliation:
Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, National Avian Research Center, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Frederic Launay
Affiliation:
Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, National Avian Research Center, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Ulrich Wernery
Affiliation:
Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 597, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Joerg Kinne
Affiliation:
Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 597, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Richard Gough
Affiliation:
Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey, UK.
Ruth Manvell
Affiliation:
Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey, UK.
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Abstract

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There is a large illegal trade in trapped houbara bustards Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii, which are smuggled into the Middle East for falconry. Mortality is high and is associated with poor transport conditions, malnutrition, overcrowding and exposure to multiple infectious diseases, in particular aspergillosis, avian pox and paramyxovirus type 1 virus. Other pathogens include Salmonella sp., Pseudomoims sp., Trichomonas sp., intestinal endoparasites, avian leucosis, reovirus, adeno-virus, paramyxovirus type 2 and Chlamydia sp. Various regional initiatives have been initiated to confiscate and rehabilitate illegally trapped birds. This paper reviews the causes of morbidity and mortality seen in illegally traded houbara bustards and provides health recommendations for those involved in rehabilitation.

Keywords

Healthhoubara bustardillegal tradeMiddle Eastrehabilitation.
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 34 , Issue 4 , October 2000 , pp. 325 - 334
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 2000

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