Black-necked stork spotted, rescue op on

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11

Rescue teams have spotted the black-necked stork with a plastic ring stuck around its beak in the Basai wetland in a daylong attempt at sighting. The bird is reported it to be in good health despite its inability to eat or drink, raising fears of dehydration due to severe heat.

Three rescue teams are coordinating operations to trap the bird so that the ring is removed before it is too late. Additional Principal Conservator of Forests Vinod Kumar said the teams had moved closer to their rescue mission, that was suspended on Monday evening and would resume on Tuesday.

Environment Minister Vipul Goel assured all help to various teams involved in the rescue. He instructed officials to leave nothing to chance and involve other experts, if required, in saving the life of the bird. He said the government was considering serious action against the plastic dump owner whose negligence and violation of pollution norms had endangered wildlife.

Meanwhile, the World Wildlife Fund offered to assist the ongoing rescue operation. A doctor would arrive at the rescue site on Tuesday to assist the teams. Kumar told The Tribune that the health of the bird appeared to be satisfactory as it flew about one km on Monday. Once the bird started getting dehydrated, it would limit its activity to walking, he said.

Giving details, Kumar said rescue teams led by the Bombay National History Society, assisted by teams from the Wildlife Department and Forest Department, had set a new trap to get close to the stork. “Every effort to get closer to the bird makes it nervous, which can trigger a crisis. Every precaution is being taken to ensure a smooth operation,” he said.

The experts were discussing various strategies to trap the bird without causing it any harm or anxiety. The teams hoped that the bird was exhausted and would not go far from the spot it was spotted. Found in the Najafgarh Lake in south-west Delhi, the stork (ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) was spotted by some bird watchers on Saturday, who in turn informed forest officials. Pictures taken by bird watchers were being monitored by rescue teams.