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Amid scorching heat in Delhi, dehydrated birds are falling unconscious from the sky, while dehydrated eagles are being picked up from roadsides, and street
animals are suffering from stomach toxicity, the veterinarians and animal rescuers warned, according to a PTI report. Across the city, veterinarians and rescuers say that distress calls involving birds and stray animals suffering from dehydration, heat strokes, and infections have risen sharply over the past few weeks as prolonged dry conditions and extreme temperatures continue to batter Delhi and the NCR.
Delhi Under Intense Heatwave
Delhi has been reeling under heatwave conditions over the past few days, with temperatures crossing the 45 degrees Celsius mark in several areas, leading to heat strokes, extremely dry conditions, and warm nights.
20 Bird Cases Every Day for Heat-Related Illnesses
A veterinarian at Abhay Daanam Bird and Animal Hospital in the Delhi-NCR region said the facility is receiving nearly 20 bird cases daily linked to heat-related illnesses, marking around a 50 per cent rise in recent weeks.
"Most of the birds coming to us are pigeons. A large number of them are suffering from pigeon pox, an infection that spreads more during periods of extreme heat and poor conditions. We are also getting other kinds of birds, besides horses and cows, that are being brought in with dehydration, heat strokes, and immovable conditions," he told PTI.
Pigeon pox is a viral disease affecting pigeons and other birds and causes lesions, weakness, and feeding difficulties. Experts said extreme heat, stress, and unhygienic surroundings often aggravate the spread of such infections.
70-80 Cases of Dehydrated Birds
A veterinarian working in the Shahdara and Chandni Chowk areas said he is currently receiving nearly 70 to 80 cases everyday involving birds suffering from dehydration, breathlessness, and heat-related distress.
"Most of the cases are of pigeons, black kites, and eagles. Many birds are brought to us in unconscious states because of the heatwave. We are giving them ORS and fluids to help them regain consciousness and recover," he said.
"Some birds arrive in extremely critical condition and we are unable to save them. But when we get calls in the early stages, treatment becomes easier and survival chances improve significantly," he added.
Stray Dogs, Cats Rescued
Manta Sidhu from People For Animals said the organisation has also been rescuing several stray dogs, cats, and other street animals suffering from dehydration and gastrointestinal infections during the summer. Sidhu urged residents to place bowls of drinking water and create shaded resting spots for animals in their neighbourhoods.
"Everybody has dogs and other animals in their lanes. People should keep water and some shaded space for them, especially during such harsh weather," she added.
Abhishek Jain from Vidyasagar Jeev Daya Parivaar, which runs round-the-clock bird ambulance services across Delhi-NCR along with his brother Amit Jain, said the organisation is currently receiving around 40 distress calls daily related to birds affected by heat strokes and dehydration.
"We have seen nearly a 30 per cent rise in heat-related cases. Many birds are found unconscious because of dehydration and heat strokes. We rescue them and provide treatment immediately," Abhishek Jain said.
He said eagles account for a large share of the birds being rescued during the ongoing heatwave. "People sometimes keep food and water for pigeons and other domesticated birds, but eagles do not have such access. They end up severely dehydrated and are often found lying unconscious," he said.
