This week, restrictions were imposed on entry to several city parks in Málaga and Seville after a large number of dead birds were found. Parque Huelin in Málaga has been closed, while the gardens of Real Alcázar and Miraflores Park in Seville are temporarily inaccessible.
About twenty dead birds were found in Parque Huelin in Málaga. The situation in Seville was even more serious: 71 geese were found dead in Tamarguillo Park, and over twenty birds, including ducks and geese, were discovered in Miraflores in recent days. Dead birds were also found in the gardens of Real Alcázar, which are visited daily by thousands of tourists, leading to the temporary closure of the area.
Authorities have decided to suspend cultural events, including the traditional summer show ‘Noches en los Jardines del Alcázar,’ to prevent a possible outbreak. New cases of waterfowl deaths continue to be reported in Miraflores and Tamarguillo, and another two dozen dead birds were found at the Miraflores Environmental Education Center.
The city administration of Seville has advised residents to avoid the closed areas. At the same time, medical examinations found no signs of illness among the 25 employees who came into contact with infected animals in Tamarguillo Park. Their health continues to be monitored by the regional health service specialists.
The authorities in Andalucía do not rule out the emergence of new suspected cases, as the virus continues to circulate in the region. However, they emphasize that final conclusions about the causes of bird deaths will be made only after laboratory tests are completed. Potential factors being considered include not only viral infections, but also water contamination with heavy metals or bacterial outbreaks.
In Málaga, representatives of environmental and community organizations have appealed to the prosecutor’s office regarding the mass death of birds in Parque Huelín. They are demanding a thorough investigation and an official explanation of the situation, as well as the creation of a special municipal service to monitor the condition of urban animals. The appeal notes that in summer, water in city ponds often changes color, and cases of disease and death among birds are regularly recorded.
