By The
Siberian Times reporter
25 April
2019
There
were nine young pelicans in the squadron that landed in the mountainous Altai
region in November.
They were
noticed by the locals helplessly skidding and tumbling on ice of a lake near
the town of Aleysk.
The
world's largest freshwater birds took went off course pushed by strong Western
winds, and became weakened by icy air and cold ground temperatures.
The pelicans
were rescued thanks to efforts of expert Alexey Ebel, a biologist by training
and a keen birdwatcher.
They
spent winter in the local veterinary clinic, with hundreds of people donating
to feed the rare birds.
‘The pelicans ate nearly three tons of fish,’
said Atryom Kucher, director of ‘Dobriy Vrach’ veterinary clinic.
‘We
organised the care in a way that the birds could remain as wild as possible, so
they didn’t go begging for food from anglers.
‘This is
why we kept only one person looking after them, so that they see humans as
danger.
‘We think
they should do well.’
Nine
pelicans were ringed and released at Pelikaniy nature reserve in the Altai
region.
One more
Dalmatian pelican landed in the same area later last winter.
By then
the air temperature then was -20C, so the bird got its wing and paw badly
frostbitten and will have to stay in the clinic longer.
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