New Delhi: Over 36 flamingos died after reportedly being struck by an aircraft in the Ghatkopar area of Mumbai. According to a representative of a wildlife welfare group, the carcasses were recovered near Rasika Restaurant and Bar in Laxmi Nagar, Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar. A Mumbai-bound Emirates flight had reported a bird hit the same day.
The Maharashtra Forest Department (MFD) and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) confirmed the incident. "From the scene, it seemed that the cause of death was a hit by an aeroplane," BNHS Director Kishor Rithe told reporters.
Gajanan Bellale, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said, "A resident in this area informed [the authorities] that a flamingo bird had fallen. Primarily it appears that the incident happened due to being hit by an aircraft. ATC [Air Traffic Control] will give further details".
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, a former MP from Mumbai Northeast, posted on X that "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."
The discovery unfolded after sightings of deceased flamingos were reported to the Forest Department on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Pawan Sharma, founder of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) and an honorary wildlife warden with the forest department, said a joint effort between the forest department's mangrove cell and the RAWW team was initiated after the discovery.
The team conducted a search operation, and uncovered the bloody remains of the birds in the vicinity. Sharma informed reporters that the carcasses were subsequently sent for an autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of death.
According to reports from airport sources, Emirates flight EK 508 encountered a bird strike upon arrival in Mumbai at 9.18 pm on Monday. Although the aircraft sustained damage, it managed to land safely at Mumbai airport. However, the subsequent flight bound for Dubai had to be cancelled.
Wildlife Board Surrendered To Power Company: D Stalin
Environmentalist D. Stalin, representing NGO Vanshakti, informed Hindustan Times that the newly installed power lines traversing the Thane Creek Wildlife Sanctuary area might have disoriented the birds. He criticised the authorities for permitting the power lines to pass through the sanctuary, stating that alternative routes were available.
"Alternative routes were many. While giving permissions for power lines (earlier, it was not allowed inside sanctuaries) the wildlife board surrendered to the power company. Instead, the Thane Creek Wildlife Sanctuary was bulldozed and towers erected," Stalin alleged, as quoted by The Week.
Last week, the BNHS submitted a study where it urged the Maharashtra government to swap Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights with Low-Pressure Sodium lights in Navi Mumbai's DPS Lake area.