Falcon Who Suffered A Bad Injury On Its Wing Is Rescued By Good Samaritans, Is Recovering Well

An injured Peregrine falcon was rescued by Wildlife SOS from Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, located at Indraprastha Estate, Delhi. The bird had a wound on its right wing and is currently undergoing treatment.

The Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit received a distress call on their rescue helpline about an injured bird that was found near Gate no. 10 of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

Wildlife SOS

It wasn't long before a two member team from the NGO rushed to the location. A closer look at the bird by the Wildlife SOS rescuers confirmed that it was a Shaheen Falcon or the Indian Peregrine Falcon. The bird had sustained a deep wound on its right wing and was in need of medical attention.

The Indian Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinator) also known as the Shaheen Falcon is a subspecies of the peregrine falcon, found in the Indian Subcontinent. It is usually seen as a solitary bird, or in pairs on cliffs and rock pinnacles however, in urban spaces they adapt to nesting on buildings and transmission towers.

This species is the fastest flying bird in the world

"This species is the fastest flying bird in the world! They are formidable hunters and are known to strike at their prey by speed diving from a great height, at a speed of almost 300 kmph. This medium-sized raptor feeds primarily on small birds, mammals, reptiles and insects," Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO and Co-founder of Wildlife SOS said.

Wildlife SOS

"The bird is currently undergoing treatment for its wing injury," Wasim Akram, Deputy Director ¨C Special Projects, Wildlife SOS, said.

Though the cause of the injury is unclear, birds including falcons regulatory suffer injuries from human activities.

BCCL/ File

One of the biggest reasons for birds getting injured, especially in the cities is kite flying. The synthetic, glass-coated strings that are often discarded after they get tangled on trees or buildings.

BCCL

These, however, can be deadly for birds as the sharp strings can cut through their flesh and even bones, leaving them vulnerable to animals like cats and dogs.