Visakhapatnam: Even birds are faithful to their masters and care takers.Cyclone Hudhud paved a way in disguise for birds of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park caged in the enclosures to escape, but some of them have not left the premises despite having all freedom to fly away. Observing this, the zoo is procuring an extra 40-50 kg of fish of different varieties everyday to feed the separated birds.
“It is an exception and against the nature that birds come back near their caged place once they get a chance to escape, but we have found them again on the park premises even after more than a year of Hudhud striking Vizag. Some of them have also made their nests on the park premises. So we are ordering an additional 50 kg fish everyday to feed them. They come to the places near the aviary section everyday,” said zoo curator B Vijay Kumar.
According to the damages assessment furnished by the zoo to the World Bank, some 180 birds and animals escaped from their enclosures as the cages were badly damaged and 11 animals died due to the cyclone.
“About 40-45 birds like grey herons, pelicans, painted storks are seen regularly. Besides, other birds, which are not from the park, also joined them as finding food and water has become difficult for them,” he added.The Indira Gandhi zoo is also taking steps to conserve the endangered bird species.
“We have housed Myna in the zoo and are planning for sparrows too. The conservation policy follows the umbrella effect, which protects flagship species whose conservation benefits other species. However, I feel it should be taken up for all specific animals and birds so that no one goes extinct,” the zoo curator said.
