Ahmedabad: Recently, when the investigators probed the two bird-hit incidents at the city airport, which had happened within three days, an interesting fact came to light. In both the cases, the culprits were the red hairy caterpillars that had taken shelter in the grasses along the runway.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) had roped in Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation to ascertain the reason behind the two incidents which had left investigators groping for clues. "During our preliminary investigation, we found that caterpillars of a particular species of moth were there in the grasses," said Bharat Pathak, director, GEER Foundation.
Soon after this finding, the AAI decided to go for a full study and formed a panel with members from GEER Foundation, Anand Agricultural University and AAI itself.
"Birds like sparrow and myna feed on these insects. We have begun spraying the prescribed insecticide and it has come under control to a large extent. For the long-term solutions, we will wait for the report of the panel," said AAI officials.
19/08/14 Times of India
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Airports Authority of India (AAI) had roped in Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation to ascertain the reason behind the two incidents which had left investigators groping for clues. "During our preliminary investigation, we found that caterpillars of a particular species of moth were there in the grasses," said Bharat Pathak, director, GEER Foundation.
Soon after this finding, the AAI decided to go for a full study and formed a panel with members from GEER Foundation, Anand Agricultural University and AAI itself.
"Birds like sparrow and myna feed on these insects. We have begun spraying the prescribed insecticide and it has come under control to a large extent. For the long-term solutions, we will wait for the report of the panel," said AAI officials.
19/08/14 Times of India
