Zebra dove farmers confident of bird flu measures

Zebra dove farmers confident of bird flu measures

Evi Mariani
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Amid the bird flu scare in the country, bird farmers in Jakarta
are confident in their approach for keeping their birds and
families healthy.

"Farm sanitation and plenty of sunlight" is their simple motto
for protecting their birds and themselves from the deadly virus.

Tony Surono, the owner of Trah Sejati Bird Farm in Rawamangun,
East Jakarta, said that even before the scare he always kept his
bird farm of about 100 perkutut (zebra doves) clean.

"I regularly allow the perkutut to bask in sunlight," he said.

"Perkutut rarely get sick. I always keep the farm clean
because perkutut are valued for their song; therefore, I make
sure they avoid respiratory diseases like production of excessive
mucous or even bird flu," Tony, who started the farm six years
ago, told The Jakarta Post, at his house-cum-farm.

He added that once a perkutut succumbed to respiratory
disease, the quality of its song would nosedive.

"I know that if a bird here gets sick and dies, I will have to
use gloves to handle the remains," he said.

Separately, M. Sadili, the owner of BBC Bird Farm, Central
Jakarta, said a similar thing about his method of keeping his
hundreds of perkutut safe from the virus.

"Cleanliness and plenty of sun," he said. "I also spray the
farm with microcide regularly."

In September, Sadili and those of his neighbors who also kept
birds asked people from the city's farming agency to inspect and
disinfect their homes.

"There's nothing to worry about. I'm more worried about
chickens and rats: We could contract the virus from rats, right?"
he said.

At least 350 perkutut farmers can be found in greater Jakarta,
with at least five to 500 pairs of birds registered at the
Association of Perkutut Farmers of Indonesia (PPPSI).

"In Indonesia, about 3,000 members, mostly farmers, are
registered at PPPSI," PPSI deputy secretary-general Andriyanto
Selancar told the Post.

Keeping birds as a pet is the chosen hobby of many Indonesian
men, mostly Javanese, whose culture dictates that an
"established" man should have a bird (of the feathered variety),
on top of other basic belongings.

"Bird flu is not having a drastic impact on us. We're still
holding competitions as usual," he said.

"Please don't exaggerate the issue. Most of our members have
taken preventive action against bird flu," he said.

If bird flu does becomes pandemic, bird-lovers might have to
cull their pets.

They also sometimes feel accused of doing the wrong thing by
keeping birds.

"So far, all the cases were related to chickens. If you've
ever seen a chicken farm, you will know the conditions under
which they operate are sometimes unclean," Tony said, while
showing off his large bird-breeding cages.

He added that he sold perkutut for Rp 100,000 (US$10) to Rp
2.5 million.

"But a champion perkutut, like Susi Susanti from Tasikmalaya
or Meteor Selancar (Surabaya) could fetch an astronomical price
like Rp 750 million or even Rp 1 billion," he said, referring to
two champion birds that frequently clinched the top position in
national competitions.

A champion at provincial level could fetch Rp 100 million
while city champions could be worth Rp 20 million to 30 million
bids, he added.

It seems that bird farmers and fanciers will be make the most
effective attempts to fight against bird flu. Surely they would
not want their precious birds to die in the first place?

Jakarta's Farming Agency contacts:
(each district has its own farming agency office, contact the
municipality office for district office numbers)

Jakarta Farming Agency 021-6285484, 021-6267276
Central Jakarta Farming Agency 021 3519086
North Jakarta Farming Agency 021 4308876
West Jakarta Farming Agency 021 5680732
South Jakarta Farming Agency 021 021 7206147-49
East Jakarta Farming Agency 021 021 4808337