Heatwave: This Hospital In Delhi?Is Providing Respite To Birds During The Summer
The harsh Indian summers are here?and?as an intense heatwave spreads across parts of India, from south to central and east, it?is making?life difficult for everyone. But it is not just us humans?that are?struggling to cope with the heatwave. While we have the luxury of taking refuge under ACs and fans, animals and birds don't have the same.
Birds affected by heatwave
Birds are particularly vulnerable to the heatwave, as they can suffer dehydration and?are?the risk?of death as?fall?from the skies due to the intense heat.?As the heatwave intensifies, rescuers?are working?overtime to save such?birds in distress.
The Charity?Bird?Hospital?in Delhi's Chandni Chowk is one such institution that has been working to provide relief to birds.
As temperatures in Delhi soar, the?hospital?is seeing an increase in?the number of?birds suffering from heat-related illnesses.
Why birds are vulnerable
According to Dr. Haravatar Singh, senior consultant at the Charity?Bird?Hospital, the temperature rise can cause water sources to heat up, rendering them undrinkable for birds.?
Birds have a naturally high body temperature, starting at around 107¡ãF, but?during a heatwave,?their body temperature can rise much higher.?If a?bird's body temperature goes above 110¡ãF, it becomes critical, requiring immediate and intensive care.
"As the heatwave intensifies, the number of birds suffering from heatstroke will also increase, resulting in more sick birds. Consequently, the number of?bird?cases will rise. There are many cases where birds do not survive due to the severity of the heatwave," Dr. Singh told ANI.
Increase in birds under treatment?
According to him, during a heatwave, the hospital typically receives about 5 to 15 birds every day. However, with the recent temperature surge, this number could increase significantly.?
When the?hospital?receives a?bird?suffering from heatstroke,?a series of?immediate actions are taken to stabilize the?bird's condition.
"When we receive a?bird?suffering from heatstroke, we sprinkle water on it and provide adequate ventilation. We have large fans that continuously circulate air through the cages. Sprinkling water on the birds and ensuring airflow helps cool their bodies," Singh said.
Birds need shelter, water
According to?him?one of the?major?reasons birds suffer during heatwaves is the lack of proper shelter and access to clean water.
"Birds often get sick because they don't find proper shelter or access to clean water. The water also gets heated due to the temperature rise, preventing them from drinking it," Singh said.
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