Bird lovers unfazed by bird flu outbreak<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia has recorded nine confirmed cases of avian influenza,
\nincluding five deaths, but bird lovers here say they are not
\noverly worried about the outbreak, arguing they have taken extra
\nmeasures to ensure their pets do not fall sick.<\/p>\n
\"My veterinarian told me the best way to protect my birds is
\nto have them vaccinated regularly. That's what I've done since
\nthe first bird flu outbreak,\" Aiko Senosoenoto, director of
\ncontemporary dance company Eksotika Kharmawibangga Indonesia
\n(EKI), told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
In 2003 the country experienced its first bird flu outbreak in
\npoultry, and, in July of this year, the first human infection in
\nIndonesia was recorded.<\/p>\n
Since then, at least nine cases have been confirmed bird flu
\npositive, including five deaths, prompting the Work Bank to offer
\nfinancial assistance for the mass culling of birds.<\/p>\n
The government, however, has refused to carry out mass culls,
\nsaying this would not bring an end to the problem.<\/p>\n
Aiko said that since then she has given her five song birds --
\nfour perkutut (zebra doves) and three tekukur (turtledoves) --
\nand three cocks vaccinations every six months.<\/p>\n
\"In this recent outbreak, I even had them vaccinated before
\nthe six months was up. I just don't want to take any chances,\"
\nshe said from her home in Manggarai, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
At her home in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, Ati Zainudin Sikado,
\nwife of a former director general for air transportation, makes
\nsure her birds are healthy by regularly cleaning their cages.<\/p>\n
\"I also give them vitamins with their food to
\nboost their immune systems,\" the owner of six birds, including a
\nmyna bird, cockatoo and zebra dove, said.<\/p>\n
Famous Indonesian chef Rudy Choirudin also boosts the immune
\nsystem of his birds through a regular vaccination program. But
\nthis bird lover has his own unique way of keeping his pets happy
\nand healthy.<\/p>\n
\"Captive birds should never be treated the way we want to
\ntreat them, but the way they should be treated, the same as in
\nthe wild,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Because captive birds are more susceptible to diseases due to
\nthe stresses associated with transportation and enclosure, the
\nbest treatment for birds, according to Rudy,
\nit to recreate their natural habitat.<\/p>\n
This is why he makes sure his 150 song birds -- including
\nmurai batu (white-rumped shama), anis merah (orange-headed
\nthrush) and jalak (starling) -- each has its own spacious cage,
\nand a special area where the birds can fly out and bathe.<\/p>\n
Birds have their own body defense mechanism, which is
\nsupported by their natural habitat, and Rudy tries to recreate
\nthis environment for his own birds.<\/p>\n
\"I make sure they have an adequate supply of carbohydrates
\nfrom seeds and corn, a source of vitamins, which they naturally
\nreceive from fruit, a source of protein, from insects and worms,
\nand minerals from dew drops, and added to their water source,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
With the help of workers at his spacious residence in Bintaro,
\nSouth Jakarta, Rudy also makes sure that the birds' cages are
\nkept clean through the use of disinfectants.<\/p>",
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