Tracking the next pandemic: Avian Flu Talk |
Middle East falconry spreads Avian Flu |
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Posted: February 08 2006 at 1:19pm |
'Ground Zero' for today's H5N1 pandemic can be traced to a peregrine falcon that was recovered in Hong Kong, January 2004. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also smuggled this virulent pandemic into the United States to Maine Biological Laboratories, in order to covertly develop a vaccine while averting culpable trade sanctions that would have occurred if Saudi had obeyed international laws. The Union for the Conservation of Raptors opposes today's rampant black market in rare falcons, organized and financed by wealthy Middle East sheikhs and princes from the Arabian Gulf. Our website is at: Every year, thousands of contraband falcons are moved from Central Asia to the Middle East, without health or border controls. The recent outbreak of avian flu is not the first for Saudi Arabia. U.C.R. has developed an 'action plan' that includes Pelly Amendment trade sanctions against countries and enterprises that smuggle falcons. By supporting U.C.R., we can shut down today's black market. Please sign the petition for trade sanctions at: https://www.savethefalcons.org/petition.aspx Please donate to U.C.R. at: https://www.savethefalcons.org/joinus_form.aspx You can read about Avian Flu and agro-terrorism at: http://www.savethefalcons.org/content.aspx?section_id=1& content_id=29
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elbows
V.I.P. Member Joined: February 06 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 339 |
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A worthy cause but 'Ground Zero' cannot be traced to a peregrine falcon as far as Im concerned.
If migratory birds were not a vector for spreading H5N1 then illegal trade in birds would be the major frontline in any battle to prevent global spread, but I believe we are way beyond that point now. |
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SaveTheFalcons
Valued Member Joined: February 08 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Certainly not. But with reference to the cyclic outbreaks of influenza, the Hong Kong peregrine significantly represents a larger volume of falcons entering black market traffic, many of which are diseased and thown away. The Hong Kong peregrine was 'ground zero' in the sense that it represents the tip of an iceberg, for a much larger issue. The maps of Avian Influenza outbreaks overlay the same 'rat lines' used by Middle East falcon smugglers. Furthermore, the royal falconry camps move tens of thousands of live Pakistani quail for live falcon food, plus thousands of live Houbara Bustards which are hunted by Arabian falconers -- all without border controls or health controls. The Hong Kong peregrine was a harbinger for things to come, as we see in the 37 falcons recently euthanized in Saudi Arabia. Edited by SaveTheFalcons |
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Alan Howell Parrot,
for the Union for the Conservation of Raptors |
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swankyc
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 11 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 314 |
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Welcome aboard SaveTheFalcons.
You seem to know alot about birds. Dont even ask me to tell you what a Houbara Bustard is. |
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I'm not afraid, I'm paranoid. Dont talk too loud, they are listening.
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