Officials: Dead ducks in Anlong Veng ‘not killed by chemical weapons’

A still from a video of dead birds which has been circulated on social media, accompanied by claims that their deaths were the result of ‘toxic smoke’. The Anlong Veng administration has clarified that they were struck by a vehicle. Supplied

The administration of Oddar Meanchey province’s Anlong Veng district has clarified that an image of seven dead birds which has been widely circulated on social media shows the aftermath of a collision with a vehicle — not from poisonous fumes or chemical weapons, as was claimed.

The “Mak Ounya” Facebook account posted a video of the deceased animals, believed to be lesser whistling ducks, on August 20. She claimed that the birds had died as a result of exposure to “toxic smoke”.

Authorities questioned the account owner, Long Sophat, who admitted that she had not witnessed the incident firsthand. She explained that she had merely re-shared the video with the intention of raising public awareness and caution.

To provide clarity and prevent scaremongering, deputy village chief Hun Phat explained what had happened to the birds.

“On the morning of August 17, at around 8am, a white Lexus LX300 ran over birds that were leading their young across a street, killing seven of them,” he said.

Phat himself collected the dead birds and disposed of them at the roadside.

“To make matters clear, the Anlong Veng district administration invited a team of veterinary specialists to inspect the site on August 20 at 1pm,” said a statement from the district administration.

It noted that the team, led by Dr. Heng Eavhong, found that all seven “praveuk” birds displayed broken chests, fractured skulls and decomposed, bloated bodies.

“These findings provide clear evidence that the birds died from blunt force impact, not from poisonous fumes, as was previously claimed,” it added.