Mass bird die-off in Iraq’s Babil prompts investigation

BABIL — Hundreds of birds were found dead Thursday in Iraq’s Al-Nil district, north of Babil, leading local authorities to launch an investigation into the cause of the mass die-off.

A well-informed source told 964media that the deaths were likely caused by “the storage of poisonous grains near the wheat storage site, which led to the laughing doves’ demise.” The specific type of grain and details surrounding its storage are still under investigation.

Local journalist Issa Al-Atwani, who documented the scene at one of the affected farms, reported that “the area only contains a civilian mill that processes wheat into flour. Birds usually gather around the mill to feed.” He captured footage of a bird walking and then suddenly falling dead, highlighting the suddenness of the incident.

The Babil Provincial Police Command released a statement outlining the steps taken following the incident. “A specialized task force has been assembled, comprising various security and environmental agencies to address this unusual event,” the statement read. The task force includes officials from Public Relations and Media, the Mahaweel Police Department, and Civil Defense, alongside National Security, Intelligence, and departments of Environment, Agriculture, and Health.

Further investigation revealed that the site in question was not a mill but a private grain storage facility. “Samples from the grains and the deceased birds have been collected for analysis to definitively determine the cause of death,” the police command explained.

The police also assured that all findings and developments would be handled transparently and that the results of the laboratory analyses would be released soon. “Legal actions will be taken against any violators found responsible for this incident,” the statement concluded.