Over 30 birds suffering from heat exhaustion have been rescued by Wildlife SOS in the months of May and June in Delhi-NCR. These birds were treated for dehydration and injuries caused mid-flight and have been safely released into their natural habitat.
As the temperature has skyrocketed in the national Capital, birds in and around Delhi-NCR are also facing the brunt of the heat wave gripping the city.
A wildlife official said, “As temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius last week, a flood of calls on the Wildlife SOS emergency helpline number (+91-9871963535) kept the rescue team on their toes!”
On a single day, the team has responded to over ten calls regarding exhausted birds that were found in precarious conditions, amongst them Black kites, Pigeons, Asian Koyals, Barn Owls and Common Mynah birds. In one such incident, a baby Mynah had fallen out of its nest in Shankar Vihar and was rescued by a Wildlife SOS team when the family noticed the tiny bird in their garden. It was reunited with its mother soon after!
Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO,Wildlife SOS, said, “The most common symptoms we have been observing in these birds are dehydration and heat exhaustion. Every year we get hundreds of calls during the peak of summer regarding birds that have fallen victim to the heat. We are very grateful for these individual acts of kindness and for the people who take the time and effort to care for these birds while help arrives.”
In another incident, an Asian Koel crashed headlong into a glass building in South Extension, New Delhi due to heat stroke. The bird sustained minor injuries and was released by the Wildlife SOS team after successful treatment.
Wasim Akram, Deputy Director - Special Projects, Wildlife SOS, said, “A large number of birds are falling prey to the soaring temperature due to heat exhaustion and lack of shade. With various parts of North India reeling under the heatwave such cases are bound to escalate in the months to come. Even the water bowls put out for these birds are drying up in the heat and so are local water bodies. As birds need to bathe themselves in summer to keep cool, this is causing quite a difficult situation. In most cases, immediate medical attention is required to prevent them from succumbing to heat stroke.”
Summer season is the breeding time for birds, so the conservation organisation has received many calls involving baby birds. Raptors such as kites are more prone to heat exhaustion as they fly at higher altitudes. Planting more trees and leaving earthen water bowls around residential complexes, windows and terraces is helpful in preventing such situations from arising.