Thane: The death toll of the birds who died during tree trimming in a Housing Society in Thane has gone up to 50 adding more five deaths whereas the rest 18 are fighting for their breath. During the reckless tree trimming at Rutu Enclave Housing society in Anand Nagar, Ghodbunder Road on July 17, 45 sub-adult and juvenile birds, mostly pond Heron and Egrets fell from their nests to death and another 23 severely injured birds were rescued by the team from NGO WildLife Welfare Association (WWF). 

For the tree trimming the enclave hired a contractor who without giving importance to the bird nests ruthlessly cut down the branches. Rohit Mohite from the team informed, the death was due to the fall from the tree causing head and internal injuries, but the most inhuman act was that the alive and injured were dumped, by the contractor’s workers in a gutter from where they were rescued. Several broken eggs were also seen lying scattered across the ground.

The injured birds saved in traumatic condition are getting treatment in a Thane veterinary hospital, some juveniles are serious and the death toll may rise as told by Mohite. Five out of them are presently somewhat stable having their intake.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department Lodged FIR against four persons including the contractor on July 18.  The source informed that some of the dead birds belong to protected species as per relevant section of wildlife protection Act 1972 and that could involve toughest punishment like jail term of the suspects as forest department Thane and local police have been investigating the crime.