27,000 Birds, Animals Die in Spain Sanctuary

At least 27,000 birds and small animals have died mysteriously around a migratory bird sanctuary near this city in southern Spain, environmental officials said.

The deaths in the Coto Donana National Game Preserve on the Gualdalquivir River delta, first believed to have been caused by insecticides, have authorities baffled.

Officials of the National Conservation Institute and the regional government of Andalusia said Thursday that they have not pinned down what killed several species of birds that migrate to Africa from Central Europe via the preserve.

Environmental officials have used hunting dogs to recover the dead ducks, geese, heron, spoonbills, flamingos and small animals that have died in the area of the 20,000-square-mile park.