The agents of the Environmental Protection Unit (UPMA) of La Laguna have located a group of about twenty dead birds, due to still unknown circumstances, in the El Manisero pond in Tejina, a natural environment located in the Anaga Biosphere Reserve.
The agents have drawn up the relevant minutes, collected samples of water and certain remains that may have been used as bait, and have delivered the specimens to the La Tahonilla Wildlife Recovery Center, dependent on the Cabildo de Tenerife, for necropsy and toxicological study.
The finding came from SEO / BirdLife partners and collaborators, who sounded the alarm and they reported the facts to the competent authority.
In total, the bodies of 18 specimens have been found, mostly feral ducks and common coots, some floating in the water.
Added to the concern for these events is that the autumn migration begins and that species such as the gray heron or the little egret will pass through here in the coming weeks, in addition to those that already live or nest here habitually, such as the alpispa (gray wagtail), the common coot, the common martinete, the common redfish or the cattle heron.
“The appearance of so many corpses constitutes a matter of great concern, not only because of the urgency of clarifying what happened and locating, if it were due to a malicious or even accidental act, the persons responsible, but also to rule out other natural and dangerous situations. public health, and that the appropriate and necessary measures can be taken as quickly as possible, “explains the Councilor for the Environment and Animal Welfare, José Luis Hernández.
Along these lines, he adds in a note that they will wait to have the results and to know the reason for the death of these birds to make a statement “in the face of such a serious situation and with such devastating consequences for the fauna of these spaces”, and anticipates that they will put all the resources of the City Council at the disposal of the authorities.
Bird migration
The councilor has come to the area this Wednesday together with the project coordinator of the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO / BirdLife), Juan Antonio Lorenzo, and other members of this organization, which maintains a territory custody agreement with the owners of the lands and the Cabildo de Tenerife, in order to protect the birdlife.
“This set of ponds is one of the most important humid areas of the island and the Canary Islands. We are very concerned because, in addition, the time of migration of birds from northern Europe that land here begins, and as if that were not enough, the Nesters are ending their breeding periods here, “says Lorenzo.
El Manisero is part of a larger set of ponds that extend between Tejina and Bajamar, which are home to a great wealth of birds and, in general, fauna associated with humid environments.
This one in particular is immersed in an action plan to turn it into a birdlife interpretation area, an initiative of the owners and SEO / BirdLife that has the collaboration of the City Council of La Laguna and the Cabildo de Tenerife under the figure of the Custody of the Territory.
