Bhuj, January 5: Mystery shrouds the disappearance of nearly 1 lakh flamingoes (Phoenicopterus Roseus) and death of their newly hatched chicks from Amarapar-Sinari vari Vandh area of Rapar taluka.

‘‘We saw at least 1 lakh adult flamingoes during our November visit to this area, but during our second visit last Friday, we saw just a few scattered birds. We still don’t know from where so many birds came here after 1994 and even now, we have no clue as to where these birds have gone,’’ said R K Mehta, the deputy conservator of forest (east).

When a team led by him went to study the cause of declining flamingo population in the area, they learnt that the highest number of birds had flown to other places and also found bodies of 500 to 1,000 chicks.

‘‘This aroused some much interest that a team of doctors from a wildlife organisation in Delhi visited the area, collected blood samples of the dead birds and went to Pune for a virological study,’’ Mehta said. Mehta said that meanwhile they were checking the whereabouts of the flamingoes and their chicks. ‘‘These are migratory birds as their raised mud nests are not found in such large numbers in any other part of the district. I have also checked with the Border Security Force officers and they have not seen flamingoes or bodies of chicks in their area,’’ Mehta said.

Mehta said that they were yet to check if the flamingoes had gone to Hanjbet, known as Unda bet in Hindi and Flamingo City in English, an area in the vast flat Rann, some 20 km north of Karo Dungar (black hills). And this could be ascertained only after he went there. ‘‘Last time, I had to return from halfway as the water level was high. The water will recede by the end of this month, when I will make another trip to check the actual population of this magnificent bird,’’ said Mehta. The declining numbers have worried many as the Great Rann of Kutch is only second to East Africa, the largest known breeding ground of flamingoes, and draws bird watchers from far and near.

However, the Flamingo City is prohibited and inaccessible too, when the Rann is inundated in water following heavy monsoon, like this year. Study shows that their presence during the October-March breeding season depends on hydrographic conditions of the area. They do not come to breed or nest, when the rainfall is too less or very high as they need shallow saline water for food and building their nests.