VLADIVOSTOK, March 17, 2004. (RIA Novosti) - The spring-time amphibious-bird hunting season has been called off this year in Far Eastern Russia's Primorye (Maritime) and Khabarovsk territories, as well as in its Amur region. This was disclosed to RIA Novosti on Wednesday at the territorial hunting and game-preserve department.
The Primorye territory boasts Russia's largest seaport, i.e. Vladivostok; meanwhile territorial authorities are doing their best to prevent a bird-flu epidemic.
Sailors, working for territorial shipping companies, are forbidden to buy exotic birds in foreign ports as well as to purchase poultry.
Primorye territorial poultry factories are taking preventive action against bird flu; among other things, such factories are now open to authorized personnel only.
Factory personnel is subjected to daily medical control since everyone understands perfectly well that a possible bird-flu outbreak would inevitably cause huge financial losses.
