Mayor of Belsh Municipality Arif Tafani shared in the social media the positive news coming from the International Waterfowl Census for 2025 for Belsh Municipality area and biodiversity in Albania.

“According to this census, during the current year the number of waterfowl and new species in all karst lakes in Belsh area has increased and this is a good indicator of the preservation and development of the natural habitat,” wrote Tafani.

According to him, this international census helps us to better assess the natural wealth of Belsh and promote the development of ecological tourism, which can attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.

He expressed optimism about creating favorable conditions for increasing the number of birds, strengthening natural ecosystems and maintaining ecological balances. /p.s./

According to the World Organization for Animal Health, the disease is currently present in many other countries, which implement control and surveillance programs similar to our country.

According to the report, since confirmation of the first case, the National Crisis Center for Avian Influenza disease meets regularly with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the Institute of Public Health, to coordinate actions and receive information on the measures taken by the Regional Crisis Center, which has identified the municipal units of the protection zones (3 km) and surveillance (10 km) for the three bird flu infection sites in Zall-Herr, Narta, Paskuqan and the one confirmed today in Karavasta Lagoon.

“Since the first confirmed case, the Regional Veterinary Service has taken all necessary measures to monitor the health situation of the domestic birds, to isolate the infection in order to prevent its spread, continuing communication with the Protected Areas Agency for bilateral monitoring of wild fauna in protected lagoon and water areas,” the report read. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

According to the Ministry, the veterinary sector of the Tirana region has controlled, through 11 daily control groups, the municipal units and villages put under veterinary supervision, enabling the immediate identification of a new case in Paskuqan, on 06.01.2025. The laboratory analysis with the RT-PCR confirmatory method confirmed the presence of the Avian Influenza virus of the subtype H5N1 in a family farm with 10 poultry heads.

Meanwhile, the veterinary sector of the Vlora region immediately after the confirmation of the positive result by the Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine for the Avian Influenza disease, of the subtype H5N1 in dead wild birds in the coastal area of ​​the Old Beach of Vlora, on 05.01.2025, has taken all measures to control and monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, the minister’s immediate orders are in force, prohibiting the sale and trading of live birds in open areas and live animal markets in the territory of: Vlora Municipal Unit; Orikum; Paskuqan; Dajt; Tirana; Farkë; Bërxull; Vaqarr; Kashar; Kamëz; Zall-Herr; Zall-Bastar. /r.e//a.f/p.s./

From 20 wild birds, whose carcasses were damaged and putrefied, there was obtained a sample, which was sent for analysis with the RT-PCR confirmatory method at the Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary. The analysis came out to be positive for Avian Influenza of the subtype H5N1.

While awaiting the result, there were set up 7 working groups on the ground to monitor the situation and trace mainly the lagoon and water areas of: Narta Lagoon; Novosela Lagoon; Old Beach; Orikum; Butrint Lagoon; Karavasta Lagoon; Seman.

According to the Veterinary Service group that is on the ground, there has been found no damage to the poultry of the farms and industrial complexes, nor are there any suspicions of the spread of the infection. The National Agency for Protected Areas has been notified, for early communication of suspected cases between institutions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Rural Affairs said that there has been convened the National Crisis Center, where in addition to members of the Ministry and affiliated institutions, there will participate employees of the Institute of Public Health, from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Rural Affairs called on the farmers to increase vigilance, implement biosecurity and veterinary-sanitary measures to reduce the risk of the infection spread in breeding poultry.

The ministry also called on the people to report any suspected case. /r.e//a.f/p.s./

The hoopoes are among the most beautiful birds, colorful and with a distinctive crown, which distinguishes it from other birds. It is a migratory bird in Albania, which comes in spring time mainly during the month of April and leaves again towards Africa in the months of August-September.

In Albania, the hoopoes are found mainly in the coastal and hilly areas.

The establishment of a moratorium on the ban on hunting wild fauna has caused populations of all species to increase year after year and more and more migratory birds come to summer./p.s./

The Administration of Fier Protected Areas shared on social media moments from the visit of a group of English tourists passionate about nature who visited this park.

“The tourists were accompanied by the staff of the park, getting acquainted with its values, as well as enjoyed some bird-watching in the Karavasta lagoon”, said the Administration of Protected Areas Fier.

The tourism of bird or wild animal watching is already turning into a real tourist movement for our country as well.

Today, Divjaka is one of the most visited natural parks in the country for marine, natural, landscape, waterfowl and history tourism.

With a panoramic tower, boats to cruise the water line along the entire park, the green forest and the diversity of birds, are some of the adventures that should not be missed when visiting this revived park./k.s/ /gj.m/p.s./

Minister Krifca asked for cooperation to isolate and eliminate the identified cases.

Krifca said that the problem is isolated in some hen establishments, except for some spots due to the geographical distribution.

“We need to immediately destroy these birds, to quarantine them and in this situation we need your cooperation,” said the minister.

The minister also asked heads of the municipalities as well as the municipal police to make a greater commitment so that to ban the markets that are not licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture.

“If we do not take drastic measures, we will not be able to isolate this disease. We are aware of the damage on the industry. It’s very important that we act today,” she said.

The minister said that the local government should take measures for burying or burning the bird cages./a.a/r.e/p.s./

During a press conference, Gjeçi said that the process of eliminating the dying birds is continuing.

“Official veterinarians have conducted inspections in all 63 distribution facilities and so far there are no suspected cases. The results of the official controls in the intensive poultry breeding complexes show they are clean”, she said.

According to her, the ministry has banned the sale and trade of live birds, as well as their movement from one farm to another.

According to her, thanks to the controls exercised by the Albanian Food Authority in the entire territory of the country there have been avoided any possible violations.

Gjeçi assured consumers that there is no risk of both meat and eggs that are controlled and cooked at temperatures higher than 70 degrees Celsius./p.s./

This bird is classified globally an endangered species due to a dramatic decline in numbers over the last centuries that has led to the extinction of the species from the European continent.

The individual equipped with satellite tracker was born in an Austrian zoo in 2014 and grew up there. Therefore, this individual is not bothered by the presence of people and can even stay very close to them in urban and rural areas by being exposed to various risks.

After getting informed yesterday by our International partners for the presence of a tagged-individual of northern bald ibis in Albania, PPNEA visited the site in order to observe this individual and to contribute in its protection. This morning, a member of the “Birds of Albania” Association also joined his PPNEA colleagues to observe the bird and take some measures to protect it during its stay in our country.”

According to the association, this morning was avoided an attempt to kill the species by some local residents of the Kune-Vain area where the bird had stayed until a while ago.

In addition to PPNEA, the Administration of Protected Areas of Lezha region has also been mobilized to preserve this very rare individual.

The “Birds of Albania” Association called on all citizens who may happen to see this species very close to them or in their backyard not to disturb or harm it. /p.s./