Mumbai: One of two flamingos that were rushed to a Bandra clinic after being shot by an airgun last week underwent a major operation on its right wing, and the doctor operating on it has said that the bird might never be able to fly again.
Aviation expert Dr Rima Dev is looking after both birds, who continue to be in a critical condition. She said that the flamingo that underwent the operation is responding well to treatment. But, since its joint capsule was completely damaged, it might never be able to fly again.
“Though the surgery of pushing back the protruding bone of the wing was done successfully, the bird has not been taking food. One cannot force-feed them, and hence it is of the utmost importance for the bird to start eating food (algae, prawns etc.) or it may not be able to survive,” Dr Dev said. Volunteers however are carrying water and mud from Thane creek in the hope that the bird will eat something on its own.
The other flamingo is reported to have a broken toe. According to Dr Dev, this injury was not allowing it to be in motion and forcing it to remain in a standing posture for very long, thereby hampering its muscles.
Pawan Sharma, founder, Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), said, “The mangrove cell will have to ensure that the birds are kept in a centre and taken good care of.” Highlighting the need to find and punish the culprits who shot the air guns, he said, “There should be restrictions and severe action against people involved in such acts.”
N Vasudevan, chief conservator of forests (CCF), mangrove cell, said, “We are trying our best to know what happened and trace the culprits. If the bird is not able to get back to the wild as it cannot fly, we will ensure that we build a separate place for it, probably in and around Airoli.”
Meanwhile, experts pointed out that the city and the state lacked facilities to look after captured flamingos.
One of the flamingos that were shot at was, ironically, found at the northern part of the Thane creek, where the government plans to inaugurate a flamingo sanctuary in February. A RAWW team rescued the bird around 4.20 pm on Sunday
