CHENNAI: The city is in deep mourning over the thousands of trees which couldn't survive the wrath of cyclone Vardah, but with them winged residents too have met a scary end.
While experts were unable to determine how many birds have been lost to Monday's winds, Blue Cross said people have been approaching them with injured birds. "Crows, swallows, sparrows, mynahs, pelicans and various other species are being brought besides dogs, kittens, cattle, goats and others," said Dawn William, General Manager, Blue Cross India.
The organisation has so far received 14 swallows, 25 mynahs, 15 crows and several other birds since Tuesday morning. Blue Cross itself has taken a hit with over 68 trees having fallen in the five-acre land but all the animals were relocated to safety as news of the cyclone poured in. "Many of our shelters are damaged and the food that we had stocked up is also wet and useless now. It will take time to rebuild everything but we have volunteers to help us," Williams said.
According to him the birds, injured with broken wings or legs, were are also in a state of shock. "They have obviously not experienced something so severe with winds up to 100 kmph. So even if they have survived they are very shaken so we have to wait for them to get over it and then take flight again. The pelicans that came in today seem like they will be ready for flight tomorrow," he explained.
Some Chennaiites also claimed to have seen birds that rarely come to their area come into their homes, while others said they had spotted rare birds in the Cooum and Adyar as well.
Williams appealed to bring injured birds so that they be given a chance at a second life. "The cyclone has wrecked havoc but we can do our bit by rescuing these small helpless birds and animals," he said.