Ulf Høyer-Jonassen (61) from Tjølling was met by a gruesome sight when he went out into Viksfjorden in Larvik on Monday and Tuesday this week.
All around the water he found more and more dead and sick swans.
– It looked as if they had died at the same time, says Jonassen to Dagbladet.
In total, he has found 14 swans from Viksfjorden, all dead.
– There were several sick swans with the dead. I had to wait until they died, because I didn’t want to stress them any more, says Jonassen.
Østlands-Posten mentioned the matter first.
Found a dolphin skull in the luggage
– Sad
He hunts seals and sets mink traps in the area, and travels around the fjord all year round. He has never seen anything like it before, he says.
– It’s sad to see, not a pleasant sight, says the 61-year-old.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority recently reported that both bird flu and Newcastle disease, two serious bird viruses, are spreading around southern Norway.
Tens of dead birds have appeared in several cities in the past week, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has introduced a number of measures to prevent the spread of infection.
– It is difficult to control the amount of infection out in nature, says head of department Asle Fremgård in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority Telemark, to NTB.
According to Fremgård, there is currently limited infection, but the Norwegian Food Safety Authority fears that the amount of infection outside among wild birds is increasing.
It is not clear whether the dead swans in Viksfjord were infected by the viruses. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority confirms to Østlands-Posten that they are sending samples of the dead swans for analysis at the Veterinary Institute.
Warns of animal contagion: – Only a foretaste
Highly contagious
Jonassen says that he is worried that the sea eagles will eat the dead swans and become infected.
– I have only seen dead swans, so far, he says.
Jonassen also noticed that several of the swans were ringed. He says that he took pictures of the ring marks and sent them to the ring marking centre.
THE RING MARK: Some birds wear identity marks around their legs, and several of the swans had this. Photo: Private.
sea view
The viruses are highly contagious, according to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Just one case of infection in a chicken coop will lead to the entire herd having to be culled.
– It can have major consequences, says Fremgård to NTB.
Measures and restrictions have been initiated in 34 municipalities in Eastern Norway with the aim of preventing the virus from spreading from wild to domesticated birds, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority informs.
