2024-01-31 00:45:50

The bird flu virus continues to spread in the South Atlantic. The Falkland Islands government said there have been two confirmed cases among gentoo penguins on Sea Lion Island, a British overseas territory. “Further results are still pending. However, there are many others who die under similar circumstances,” said a spokeswoman. So far, more than 200 chicks and some adults have been found dead.

Sea Lion Island – a popular excursion destination – has been closed to visitors since January 19th, as has Steeple Jason Island in the northwest. The spokeswoman said test results from rockhopper penguins are currently expected from there. The government of the Falkland Islands has been preparing for a large-scale outbreak of the H5N1 virus together with the population for some time. “Everyone understands the importance of the wildlife on the islands and knows that it is our duty to do as much as possible to protect it,” it added.

As the British newspaper “The Guardian” reported, there is also at least one suspected case of a king penguin on the island of South Georgia, regarding 1,500 kilometers from the Falkland Islands.

British scientists recently announced that they had discovered bird flu in mammals near Antarctica for the first time. The pathogen was found in elephant seals and fur seals. The virus was first detected in the region in October 2023 in brown skua, a species of skua, on Bird Island near South Georgia. Experts warn that the spread of the virus is endangering Antarctica’s unique ecosystem. There have also been several recent reports of bird flu in the Arctic, including a dead polar bear.

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The prosecutor’s office decided to bring charges and arrest Roman Ł., the staroste of Tarnów. Anna G., director of the District Family Assistance Center, was also detained. They face imprisonment.

Roman Ł. and Anna G. are suspected of, among other things, abuse of powers. They have already heard the charges.

– On January 27, the staroste of Tarnów and the director of the District Family Assistance Center were detained. Both of these people were interrogated as suspects and appropriate charges were announced, said Janusz Kowalski, spokesman for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Kraków.

Charges once morest the staroste of Tarnów

The starost heard charges under Art. 231 par. 2 of the Penal Code – this concerns the abuse of powers by an officer in order to obtain material or personal benefits – and Art. 286 of the Penal Code, which concerns attempted fraud.

Investigators brought charges once morest the director of PCPR under Art. 231 par. 1 regarding abuse of powers by an officer and Art. 239 par. 1. – attempting to accept material or personal benefits.

The mayor was arrested. In relation to the director, the prosecutor applied non-custodial preventive measures in the form of property bail, police supervision and suspension from official duties.

Source of the main photo: PAP/Paweł Topolski