While humans have to stay indoors because of coronavirus lockdown, animals are taking the chance to reclaim the world.
That includes lions in South Africa, turtles in Florida, and now flamingos in India.
More than 150,000 flamingos have been flocking to the Indian city of Mumbai, turning the metropolis pink. Many have speculated that the reduction of construction work and fishing allowed the birds to hunt for food and breed.
While flamingos have been flocking to the city since the 1980s, the Bombay Natural History Society says that there has been a 25 percent increase this year likely because of the prolonged lockdown.
Deepak Apte, the director of the conservation group, told Hindustan Times: “A major reason for the large numbers is also the large flocks of juveniles moving to these sites, following the successful breeding documented two years ago.”
The director added: “The lockdown is giving these birds peace for roosting, no disturbance in their attempt to obtain food, and overall encouraging habitat.
“Wetland destruction and developmental activities across several areas of the eastern seafront is another reason why larger bird numbers are getting squeezed into smaller pockets like in Navi Mumbai.”
Rahul Khot, assistant director of BNHS, also said: “While there is a decline in industrial waste during the lockdown, the influx of domestic sewage is helping the undisturbed formation of planktons, algae and microbenthos formation, which forms the food for flamingos and other wetland birds.”
Locals have been sharing photos online of the birds lighting up the lakes. One resident told Hindustan times: “Residents are cooped up at home spending their mornings and evenings at their balconies taking photographs and videos of these relaxed birds.
“The lockdown will at least prompt people to focus on what is around them, which they had been taking for granted, and hopefully this site will be declared a flamingo sanctuary soon.”
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Replaced!