Environmentalists express deep concern

In the early hours of Thursday, April 25th, the death of five flamingos and the injury of seven sent shockwaves through Navi Mumbai. This harrowing incident occurred near the non-functional Nerul Jetty, adjacent to DPS Lake in Nerul, marking a dark day for the city.

Eyewitness accounts from regular runners and joggers painted a grim picture, with five flamingos, three of them severely injured, found scattered along the road near the Nerul Jetty. Sandeep Sareen, a resident of NRI Complex and eyewitness to the distressing scene, immediately alerted the authorities, including the police, Wildlife Welfare Association, and the forest department, to initiate a rescue operation.

Simultaneously, morning walkers discovered three more injured flamingos trapped in the mudflat of DPS Lake. Their cries for help prompted the courageous intervention of Shiv Shankar Das, who waded through the murky waters to rescue the stranded birds. The injured flamingos were then handed over to Sunpreet, the team lead of Wildlife Welfare Association, who worked tirelessly to ensure they received urgent medical attention, while the deceased birds were prepared for post-mortem examination.

Expressing his discontent, Sandeep Sarin, a Managing Committee member of NMEP, lamented the recurring tragedies and criticized the neglect of DPS Lake, a vital habitat for migratory flamingos. He emphasized, "Today's episode was not an isolated one. On April 19th, four more avians were injured and three deaths were reported, with the cause still under investigation."

Sarin attributed the distressing events to the reckless destruction of the flamingos' habitats, particularly the wetlands of DPS and Chanakya Lakes. He pointed to the construction of the Nerul Jetty by CIDCO, which not only decimated mangroves but also obstructed crucial feeder channels essential for the well-being of the flamingos.

Sudhir Manjare, RFO of Mangrove Cell Forest Department, revealed that they are eagerly awaiting the post-mortem reports and blood analysis of the injured flamingos, along with water tests from DPS Lake to ascertain any potential contamination threats.

Residents, deeply concerned by the situation, have enlisted the support of the Bombay Natural History Society to investigate the sudden disorientation of the flamingos. Together with various authorities, including the Wildlife Welfare Association, Forest Department, Fire Brigade, Mangrove Cell, and the local NRI Police, they stand united in their efforts to save the lives of these iconic migratory birds and advocate for the restoration of DPS Flamingo Lake.