Mumbai, the capital of western India’s Maharastra, is known for having a large population of the pink birds
The carcasses of around 36 flamingos were found in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, on Monday night. The birds were reportedly struck dead by an Emirates flight moments before it landed, according to the Times of India.
The dead birds were found in the Ghatkopar neighborhood of Mumbai, close to the airport. The plane was also damaged during the collision and its return flight to Dubai was cancelled, tracking website Flightradar24 showed.
Nearby residents initially discovered broken pieces of wings, beaks, and claws scattered over a large area, following which they alerted forest officials. Local officials have launched a search operation to find out if more flamingos were killed in the accident.
35 flamingoes found dead in Pantnagar Ghatkopar area of Mumbai after they collided with an Emirates Boeing 777-31H(ER) Aircraft (A6-ENT), which was on approach to Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, (BOM/VABB), India on Monday, 20 May. The incident occurred… pic.twitter.com/bCk3cYOmwL
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) May 21, 2024
According to D. Stalin, a local environmentalist who was quoted by Hindustan Times, new power lines built in the area had “disoriented” the birds, causing the accident.
Pawan Sharma, founder of the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), said the carcasses have been sent for autopsy to determine the “exact cause of their death,” according to NDTV. RAWW is a local non-government organization that seeks to resolve human-wildlife conflicts and promote urban wildlife conservation.
It seems 40 #Flamingo died yesterday night in accident, dash with a landing aircraft at Ghatkopar Mumbai I visited Lakshmi Baug, Ghatkopar & seen a dead body & remains of other flamingoes. I talked with Officials of Forest, BMC, Police @BJP4India@mybmcpic.twitter.com/hV6cVfA8ac
— Kirit Somaiya ( Modi ka Pariwar) (@KiritSomaiya) May 21, 2024
Flamingos are found in several locations across India, particularly during the winter season. In Mumbai, a large number of the birds reside in the Sewri mudflats, a wetland area. The Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary on the city’s outskirts and Bhigwan, some 100km from the city of Pune, are other places in Maharashtra state where these exotic birds are found in abundance.
India has the largest population of lesser flamingos outside Africa, mostly in the salt deserts of the western state of Gujarat.
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