The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Sub-adult common kite rescued

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Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sub-adult common kite rescued

Special Correspondent

— Photo: M. Vedhan

The rescued sub-adult common kite at Kilpauk on Monday.

Chennai: A sub-adult common kite, which was found injured by a Kilpauk resident on Sunday, was rescued by the wildlife authorities on Monday. It will soon be transferred to the Children’s Park.

Kilpauk resident N. Balasubramaniam, who rescued the bird, said he found it on Sunday evening. The bird was being chased by a group of crows when he saw it, he said. It had fallen unconscious. The resident then took the bird to the veterinary hospital in Vepery, where it was given treatment. The hospital authorities suggested that the bird be fed water mixed with sugar at regular intervals. The kite regained consciousness after a while and tried to attack the resident. He then called the wildlife authorities.

K.S. Sathyamoorthy, Range Officer, (Wildlife), Headquarters, who sent a team to take the bird to Children’s Park, said it had sustained minor injuries in one of its wings but that it was otherwise active. After providing treatment, the bird would be handed over to the park.

According to sources, common kites swoop boldly to pick up food scraps or dead rats, with great agility. T. Murugavel of Environmental Monitoring and Action Initiating, a non-governmental organisation involved in wildlife conservation, said the predator was commonly found in the city, particularly where garbage is dumped. They are often chased or mobbed by crows. Their feed includes mice, lizards, earthworms, termites and young birds.

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