Residents and workers denounce frequent deaths of herons in the Batista Campos square, in Belém. Belém City Hall started this Tuesday (14) a task force in the Batista Campos square to reduce the concentration of herons in the area. The action begins just over a month after g1 showed complaints from residents, traders and experts about the frequent death of birds, the accumulation of feces and the bad smell in different areas of the space. Frequent deaths of herons in the Batista Campos square worry residents and traders in Belém. The measures include daily washing of the square, carried out by the Municipal Department of Janitorial and Urban Conservation (Sezel), and actions by the Municipal Department of the Environment (Semma), which, according to the city hall, aim to encourage the migration of herons to other urban environments. According to Sezel, cleaning will be carried out daily, for an indefinite period of time. According to the agency, washing eliminates the odor caused by bird waste, which can discourage them from staying in the square. In addition to cleaning, Semma started an environmental education action that will continue until Friday (17). Teams from the agency advise traders and visitors on how to act when they find injured or dead birds and distribute informational material. The recommendation is that the population does not touch or remove the animals and contact the Municipal Guard, by calling 153, or the Environmental Police Battalion, through 190. According to the director of Bosque Rodrigues Alves, Ellen Eguchi, the concentration of herons in the square was favored by the presence of large trees and the proliferation of tilapia in the lakes, the birds' main source of food. Still according to her, the emergency plan also foresees the removal of these fish, in addition to treating injured animals and removing those found dead. The manager also stated that some of the deaths are part of the natural dynamics of the species, but that the large concentration of herons has made these episodes more frequent in the eyes of the population. Complaints sparked debate In a report published by g1 on June 3, residents, traders and regulars reported the constant death of herons in Batista Campos square, in addition to the presence of sick birds, the strong odor caused by the accumulation of feces and the difficulty in obtaining care for the animals. On the occasion, biologist Basílio Guerreiro defended the carrying out of exams and studies to identify the causes of deaths, highlighting that the frequent occurrence of deaths requires technical investigation. Also in response to g1 at the time, Belém City Hall reported that herons are free-living animals and stated that the municipality's responsibility is restricted to animals kept in captivity. Sick and dead animals are frequently seen by those passing through Batista Campos square, in Belém. Reproduction / TV Liberal The Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) reported, at the time, that there were no studies or management actions underway for the heron population in the square and highlighted that any intervention depends on a technical diagnosis prepared by qualified professionals and presented by the municipality to the competent environmental agency. Praça Batista Campos, in Belém. Agência Belém ? Follow the g1 Pará channel on WhatsApp VIDEOS with the main news from Pará Access other news from the state on g1 Pará.