Vets are convinced that it was poisoned by illegal chemical agents.
The staff at the Center ornithologique de réadaptation (COR) in Genthod GE have been fighting a literal battle for life and death in recent days. A resident of a campsite in La Rippe VD had discovered a red kite lying on the ground, already attracting the attention of the campsite's cats, as «Le Matin» reports. "When I saw this beautiful bird that could no longer fly, I spoke gently to it and stroked it," says the woman who found it. She then carefully placed it in a bag.
She was eventually able to hand the comatose, seizure-ridden bird over to the specialists at COR. Patrick Jacot, the person in charge at COR, told the newspaper that in 40 years of operation they had never seen a red kite before. At first, a collision with a vehicle or a window pane was suspected. Only later did they conclude that the animal was suffering from poisoning caused by illegal pesticides.
The red kite has been protected for decades
The red kite was placed under protection in Switzerland as early as 1925. However, since it continued to be shot until the 1950s, it took a long time for the population to begin recovering. In the meantime it has spread somewhat again, as the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach reports. The roughly 90 breeding pairs recorded at the first count in 1969 have since grown to around 1,500 pairs. In other parts of Europe, however, the population continues to decline.
"I gave it less than a 50 percent chance of survival"
At the bird rescue station, the first emergency measure for the red kite was to pump out its crop — a pouch-like section of the esophagus where food is stored. "The crop was full, the size of a tennis ball," says Emilie Bréthaut, a veterinarian at the COR. A tube was then used to administer an enema — a procedure requiring great sensitivity. Bréthaut brought to light dirt and greenery that smelled strongly of chemicals. "When you see something like that, it really makes you think about the fruit and vegetables we consume," said the veterinarian.
After the emergency intervention, the red kite was put on an IV drip. "The situation remained very critical. I gave it less than a 50 percent chance of survival," says Bréthaut. But by the next day, the bird of prey already seemed somewhat stronger. It also began eating on its own, but later suddenly refused to do so. "The red kite is a species that is highly sensitive to stress," says the expert. For this reason, the starving bird of prey was fed using tweezers.
Rehabilitation in the Aviary
As soon as the red kite is fit enough, it will be able to make a full recovery from its poisoning in an aviary. It will then be released back into the wild — most likely fitted with a ring and a transmitter. The woman who found it is delighted: "Thankfully, it could be saved. We owed it that, when you see what humans do to nature."
Related dossiers and articles:
- Dossier: Hunting and Biodiversity
- Dossier: Hunting and Animal Welfare
- Dossier: Lead Ammunition and Environmental Toxins
- Dossier: Red Lists Switzerland
- All articles: Wildlife
