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Young World
Flamingos heading out
PHOTO: AP
BEAUTIFUL PINK: No more Lake Nakuru.
For centuries, Kenya's Lake Nakuru has been home to flamingos and a major draw with visitors — more than 2,00,000 a year. But, of late, the shrinking lake has turned into a death trap for these beautiful birds. Just six years ago there were as many as one million flamingos feeding in the shallow stretches of the lake but now less than 30,000 can be seen on the receding shoreline and carcasses of many lie on the dry lakebed. In recent times, Nakuru's area has become less than 20 square miles and its catchment area has seen heavy deforestation. As global temperatures rise, drought and rivers running dry have plagued Africa. Add pollution from industries and sewage to this brew and one can understand why the lake and the blue-green algae — the main food of the flamingos — have been diminishing. However the deputy warden of Lake Nakuru National Park Paul Oppiyo told news agency AP that many birds had moved to other lakes in the Rift Valley that were more favourable for the growth of algae. According to him, a smaller Lake Nakuru meant a concentration of toxic wastes in the water, which has caused sores on the flamingos' legs.
COMPILED BY R.KRITHIKA
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