Dagestan opens field hospital for pelicans

The hospital aimed to rehabilitate the pelicans, which stay in the Makhachkala Bay was opened in the territory of the repair shipyard.

Employees of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Dagestan have set up a post on the shore, where inspectors from the natural reserve are thawing fish and feed the pelicans. They also give fish out to citizens and children that they feed the birds.

"We have very few birds left, which cannot eat themselves. On February 22, local veterinarians caught one bird with a broken wing; today, we've caught four more birds – all of them were taken to the cordon of the Reserve 'Dagestanskiy', where we have deployed, together with the Russian Bird Protection Union and the Birds' Hospital 'Green Parrot', a field hospital. We have free premises there, all the necessary drugs and devices, including a mobile ultrasound laboratory and so on, as well as enough feed," said Gadjibek Djamirzoev.

In total, the bay houses about 500 pelicans; almost all of them are very active, well-fed, and fly from place to place. The weather in Makhachkala is above zero during the day; at night there is little frost.

"The pelicans have survived during the most difficult period. We think about how to add vitamins to their diet. Now it is important for the pelicans to gain strength and improve in health. If there are no outbreaks of infectious diseases, almost all the birds will survive and ready for the spring migration," said the source.

However, there are 10 weak birds. The Moscow Zoo and the Moscow Animals' Theatre "Grandpa Durov's Corner" are ready to accept the birds. The latter has learnt about the situation with pelicans in Dagestan from the publication of the "Caucasian Knot".

"We read about the death of pelicans in the bay and decided that we can take a few birds, even weakened, to our territory," said Marina Tropinskaya, assistant of the theatre's artistic director. "Pelicans live and perform in our theatre for decades. The conditions are good – two pools for pelicans, a winter and a summer ones, excellent feed and care."