The oil spill in northern Chennai’s Ennore throughout Cyclone Michaung in early December adversely impacted the eco-sensitive Ennore Creek and the Kosasthalaiyar River. Mangroves, aquatic life, and migratory birds that flock to the creek in substantial numbers had been coated in slick and oily sludge.
The wetlands of the Ennore-Manali area are recognized to host a number of hen species together with open-billed storks, cormorants, egrets, spot-billed geese, grebes, pelicans, frequent coots, black-winged stilts, red-wattled lapwings, and pond herons. However, birdlife within the creek dropped drastically within the first two weeks of December on account of the oil spill. The State Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department (ECCF) estimated that over 50 pelicans — spot-billed pelicans being essentially the most affected as a consequence of their feeding model — and different birds had died, and roped within the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary (BMAD) to rescue the surviving birds. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to ECCF, stated a fast evaluation report was carried out to take inventory of the avifauna within the creek.
With a number of pelicans having flown to different wetlands of the town, the knowledgeable staff discovered about two dozen in want of intervention. Although components of the river aren’t best for rescuing birds, the staff has up to now managed to rescue eight pelicans. Speaking to The Hindu, NVK Ashraf, Chief Veterinary Officer and Vice President at WTI, stated all eight are feeding effectively and the birds are steadily being moved to bigger enclosures to verify their motion. Around 30 extra pelicans want consideration and it’ll take one other month to rescue them, he stated.
(Text by: Geetha Srimathi)
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Flight in danger: A pelican adversely impacted by the oil spill makes an attempt to fly.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Hard at work: Fishermen engaged in eradicating oil from the
wetlands of Ennore-Manali
within the aftermath of the oil spill.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Different shades: Two spotbilled pelicans in Ennore. Impact of the oil spill is seen on the darker pelican.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Heavy wings: A painted stork struggles to fly from the
Kosasthalaiyar River, with its wings closely affected by the oil spill.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Saftey web: Experts rescue a pelican affected by the oil spill.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Thorough cleansing: Experts cleansing a hen rescued from the Kosasthalaiyar river utilizing a gentle resolution of cleaning soap and vegetable oil.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Brushing off: A
rescued pelican being
cleaned at Guindy
National Park.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Intense care: Experts
feed fish soup to a
weak pelican at
Guindy National Park.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Recovery route: A pelican beneath rehabilitation at Guindy National Park feeds on dwell fish.
Photo:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Waiting to fly: Experts say
that it will take a minimum of a
month of standard cleansing
and therapy earlier than the
birds are good to fly away.
