NUUANU, Hawaii (KHON2) — It’s a disturbing sight for residents near Nuuanu as dozens of chickens were found either dead or dying in their neighborhood.

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A Pauoa resident who did not want to be identified said he first noticed the 15 chicken carcasses on Tuesday near Booth District Park.

Oahu officials capture nearly 2K feral chickens since 2022

“I found about 15 more dead ones off the Ewa side of the park,” he revealed. “And then now, I’m up to a total of 63 dead chickens. As of today, I got three more dying.”

The Hawaiian Humane Society confirmed an investigation was launched and they also looped in the Department of Agriculture. Residents said it’s painful to see.

“I rescued 20 babies like yesterday because all the moms are dead,” said another resident.

The humane society said the Department of Agriculture is investigating the deaths as possible cases of botulism, an avian disease that induces progressive paralysis.

“It starts with the legs. First, they get weak legs and then they can’t use the legs at all. And then it starts to progress, so they can’t hold their head up anymore. And then it affects their breathing and then their breathing gets more labored and then they pass away,” Dr. Brian Walsh, Feather & Fur Animal Hospital Medical Director explained.

From 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., feral chickens remain nuisance for Hawaii residents

Regardless of how the animals died, the other issues is their carcasses being found around the neighborhood – whether it is in the street where people are walking their dogs or just in the park where children are at play.

“So now then, everybody has to watch what their dogs are sniffing or even whatever they’re doing,” Pauoa resident Claudia Virtudes said, “Kids are picking up the chickens, catching the chickens.”

Dr. Walsh said thankfully, botulism is mainly a risk to humans through contaminated food. Cooking and eating dead chickens that are found on the street is still not a good idea, however.

“Do not do that and do not let your dog eat it either, it’s not only can your dog get sick from botulism potentially, but there can be other bacteria that can make it sick as well,” Dr. Walsh said.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

The HDOA investigates mass deaths in free-ranging chickens on Oahu and said botulism reports typically peak in August, September and October.

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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A former Central Intelligence Officer was sentenced Wednesday to federal prison for conspiring to gather and deliver national defense information for China.

Chief U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson sentenced 71-year-old Alexander Yuk Ching Ma — who had pleaded guilty in May — to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Ma worked for the CIA from 1982 until 1989.

He was arrested in 2020 on charges of spying and selling state secrets to China.

Ma admitted that in 2001, over a decade after he resigned from the CIA, he and a relative met with Chinese intelligence officers in a Hong Kong hotel room to provide them with “a large volume of classified U.S. national defense information.”

In exchange, they were handed $50,000 in cash.

He subsequently served as a linguist for the FBI in Honolulu. The FBI was aware of Ma’s ties to Chinese intelligence officers and hired him as part of an investigation, monitoring his activities and contacts.

“This sentence demonstrates the dedication of the United States to protect itself from this type of betrayal and violation of trust,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “Let it be a message to anyone else thinking of doing the same. No matter how long it takes, or how much time passes, you will be brought to justice.”

The government said Ma’s role involved facilitating classified CIA information — obtained from 1967 to 1983 — between his relative and Chinese intelligence officers.

“Despite his sworn oath to protect U.S. classified secrets from illegal disclosure, Alexander Ma chose to betray his oath for money while aiding the People’s Republic of China,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors.

“Bringing Alexander Ma to justice, even after the passage of many years, affirms our commitment to holding accountable those who violate our nation’s trust and security.”

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Donna Longboy, a registered nurse and manager for Kapiolani’s pediatric ambulatory unit and apheresis program, tells us about pediatric oncology services at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

Some of those services include clinical trials for pediatric cancer patients and Car-T cell therapy treatment.

Longboy also shares more information about Kapiolani’s bone marrow transplant program and recent prestigious accreditation.

For more health and wellness tips and information, visit HealthierHawaii.org.

Copyright 2021 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.