THRISSUR: An injured baby hornbill was released to the forest at Nelliyampathy on Tuesday after being treated for more than a month at the forest department’s veterinary clinic for the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals and birds, at Akamala near Thrissur. According to forest veterinarian Dr David Abraham, it was rarely that an injured hornbill, which is the state bird of Kerala and belonging to the endangered species included in the Schedule One category of Wild Life Protection Act, was treated and rehabilitated.
The bird was located in a weak condition on the roadside at Nelliampathy on July 16, by the residents, said Krishnadas, forest range officer of Nelliampathy. The residents handed over the bird to the local forest officials. It was raining on that day and the forest officials dried it with a drier borrowed from a nearby salon. Subsequently it was taken to the local veterinary clinic and the officials there suggested it be taken to the rehabilitation centre at Akamala.
“It was suffering from minor injuries on the chest. It was off feed initially. But we supported it by giving fluid at every hour during the day and night. It started lifting its head after three days, on the fourth day it started taking solid food. Fruits and berries were given in the morning and evening, while non-vegetarian at noon. First we supplied cooked chicken and later raw meat was added to the diet and we continued the treatment. We decided to release it, after ensuring that it will be able to fly on its own,” said Dr David.
