preface
At the Shenyang Wildlife Conservation Association's Raptor Rescue Center, one day they received a special guest, a vulture poisoned by pesticides. The story of this vulture has gone through many ups and downs and emotional turns, which makes people wonder, what kind of story happened between the rescue center and this vulture?
At first, the vulture's physical condition was very bad, because it was poisoned and put into danger because of the accidental ingestion of rat bait and pesticides dropped by humans. Fortunately, however, the staff of the Shenyang Wildlife Conservation Society discovered it in time and sent it to the rescue center for treatment and rehabilitation.
After careful care and healing, the vulture's body gradually recovered and overcame the effects of poisoning. However, when considering the release, things did not go as smoothly as expected.
Drop-in center staff made three attempts to release the vultures back into the wild, but each time failed. The vulture seemed reluctant to leave the shelter, it was lying there, unwilling to fly away. This situation makes people wonder, why are vultures reluctant to leave the rescue center? Does it develop some kind of dependence on drop-in centers?
vulture
In 2013, the Shenyang Raptor Rescue Center of the Shenyang Wildlife Conservation Association received a poisoned bird of prey, and when they saw the appearance of the bird, they were surprised to find that it was a national first-class protected animal - a vulture. The vulture was poisoned by eating rat bait and pesticides dropped by humans, but fortunately, with the careful treatment of the rescue center staff, its body gradually recovered.
When the symptoms of poisoning were completely cured, the staff of the shelter decided to return the vulture to nature. However, this "big fellow" did not leave. The staff carried out three releases, the first time they thought the release was successful, but the vulture returned to the rescue center. While working at the center, everyone was still exchanging their experience in rescuing the "big guys", but they heard the "cooing" sound of the tailing vulture flapping its wings, as if reporting to the staff: "Hey, I'm back!" "It was like a smug kid and very obedient.
After analysis, the staff learned that the person who had taken care of the vulture before was Director Zhou of the Ecology Research Laboratory of Shenyang University of Science and Technology. Under Director Zhou's careful care and treatment, this "big fellow" quickly recovered. Since vultures are wild animals and meet the conditions for release, they do not need to undergo rewilding training. However, previous poisoning and drug treatment caused its feathers to fall more, and now it is a veritable "bald" vulture.
The first release failed due to feather problems, and the large vulture had to stay in the rescue center temporarily to wait for new feathers to grow, however, during the moulting, a fire broke out. The fire affected stables near the poultry cages, and most of the wildlife was tragically killed, which was heartbreaking. Fortunately, the bird cage was extinguished before it could be engulfed in flames, and the vulture narrowly escaped.
After the fire, Director Zhou and the center staff felt guilty, and they decided to care and care more carefully for the surviving animals, especially this vulture. They improved the vulture's diet and added meals regularly, and the vulture's nutrition was replenished. Half a year has passed, and the vulture has grown plump wings, and its body size has obviously grown a large circle.
Director Zhou looked at its healthy and plump wings and decided to release it for the second time. However, when it arrived at the designated flight site, the vulture had a bloated gait and could not push itself to take off. It seems to have forgotten its own self that once soared into the sky, and only thought of the "six big chicken legs" that were fixed every day. The staff tried various methods, running with it, patiently guiding the flight, hoping to stimulate its flying instinct, but at most it just ran on the ground for a while, flapping its healthy plump wings.
After half a year of careful feeding, Director Zhou and the staff of the center were looking forward to the second release, but the result was the same as the first time. They were amused by this vulture's cute physical state, but they also felt helpless.
It was learned from the staff that vultures belong to large birds of prey of the vulture genus of the eagle family, with a body length of about 108-120 cm. Under normal circumstances, the weight of such birds of prey generally does not exceed 20 kg. However, this vulture is one lap fatter than a normal adult vulture and weighs more than 25 kilograms.
Such a heavy weight makes it impossible to fly. In order to avoid losing its wild nature due to long-term cage, it was decided to release it back into the wild as soon as possible. The staff of the rescue center and Director Zhou continued to work hard to find a suitable way to release the vulture. They believe that even with setbacks, as long as the vulture regains its ability to survive in the wild, it will be able to soar above the blue sky again and spread its wings.
Vultures for weight loss
The staff decided to develop a weight loss plan. The recipe was re-customized, intake was strictly controlled, and the daily meal was reduced from six large chicken legs to two large chicken legs.
In addition, the staff also led "fat fat" to the field for weight loss training, increase its exercise, help it restore muscle memory, so as to recover the ability to fly as soon as possible. After months of dietary adjustments and physical training, all signs of "fattening" returned to normal levels.
Finally, it was time to release the life. The crew guided the "fat fat" to glide through the wild, bringing it back into the sky. Everyone was pleased that "Fat Fat" was successfully released, however, when the staff returned to the rescue center, they found that "Fat Fat" had returned, with a flock of crows. Seeing the staff, it excitedly shouted like a child expecting compliments and acted very happy.
Since "Fei Fei" did not want to leave, the staff reluctantly left him in the rescue center. It continues to enjoy life of being cared for, creating a deep emotional bond with the staff.
Over time, "fattening" and the feeding staff became a family. However, with the arrival of spring and the recovery of all things, it is a good time to release "fat fat". This time, to avoid it coming back again, the staff chose an ecological wetland far away from the rescue center as the release site. In order to keep abreast of the survival status of "Fei Fei" after release, they installed tracking and positioning instruments on it.
When the day of release came, the staff felt reluctant, but they knew that it was the best choice for "fattening". It spread its wings and flew into the sky, disappeared into the distance, and the release was a complete success. The crew then began tracking the flight trajectory of the "fat fat" to analyze and understand its survival in the wild.
Dozens of days later, "fat fat" appeared on the monitor, and it was very excited after seeing the food brought by the staff and gobbled it up. However, a few days later, the staff found the hair and remaining bones of other birds, indicating that "fat fat" has been able to hunt other birds independently.
Return to the embrace of blue skies
Director Zhou and the staff finally breathed a sigh of relief and saw what "fat" looked like now. Over the past week, staff have discovered that "fat fat" has begun to migrate north. No matter how they called, it ignored it and only hovered over the blue sky, as if there was only a vast blue sky in its heart. The successful migration of "Fat Fat" completely reassured the people in the center that it has regained its instinct to live in nature and has the ability to hunt alone. They believe that the center's treatment of "fatten" has come to a successful end.
However, the good times did not last long, and the drop-in center received a call from a stranger. He found a large bird lying on the ground, carrying a call for the rescue center. The man called curiously to inform the center that Big Bird was in danger. This big bird is exactly "fat". After Director Zhou heard the abnormal news, he was nervous and immediately rushed to the scene of the incident with the staff to rescue it.
When they arrived, they found that the skeleton of the left wing of the "fat fat" was completely broken, and both paws were also flattened, and the injuries were serious. Although it was impossible to determine whether the injury was man-made or not, the people at the drop-in center decided to bring it back to the center for rescue first. After analyzing the monitor data, they found that "fat fertilizer" ended up in the mountains near a wind farm. The place is off the beaten track, so the possibility of human harm is ruled out. Director Zhou speculated that "fat fat" was likely to be injured by the whirlwind of the windmill.
In order to provide the most comprehensive and professional rescue measures for "Fei Fei", Director Zhou took it to a famous local animal hospital in Shenyang for orthopedic treatment. After systematic diagnosis, the doctor found that the left wing of "fat" was seriously fractured, and there were also comminuted fractures in both claws. After a long period of complicated surgery, "Fei Fei" successfully survived the threshold of life and death. However, the doctor told Director Zhou that the recovery after the "fat" operation will be a long process, especially the injury of the left wing needs meticulous care. Even if the bones and external wounds heal, the left wing is likely to be permanently disabled and unable to fly again and return to the blue sky.
When Director Zhou heard this postoperative diagnosis, his heart was like a knife. He was filled with endless guilt and heartache for "fat". He understood that despite the center's best efforts, "fat" might no longer be able to enjoy the joy of flying freely. However, he also realized that "Fat Fat" received the best treatment and love in the center, and although it could not fly, at least it still had a chance to live a happy and stable life.
The vulture encountered another problem
A vulture "fattening" and colleagues in the rescue center spent more than a year and effort on nursing and rescuing it. After many struggles between life and death, it was successfully rescued.
However, fate once again imposed a cruel test on the "fat fat", which was not only a pain for itself, but also an unbearable blow for the staff of the rescue center. After their inner pain and sadness, they had to face reality and continue to provide common efforts, careful care and care for "fat".
In order to ensure the smooth recovery of "Fei Fei", Director Zhou and the staff of the rescue center came up with a method. They made a special set of fixed clothes, with bandages, boards and plaster to protect the "fat fat" from being injured during the recovery period. This suit fixes the "fat" body in a pose, and although it feels uncomfortable, everyone still looks at it distressed and amused.
After a few days of suffering, when everyone saw that "fat" endured the pain caused by clothes, they decided to take off their clothes regularly every day and let it move freely for a period of time to alleviate the pain caused by bondage. After three months of recuperation, Fei Fei's injuries improved.
However, Director Zhou and the staff found in a comprehensive and meticulous systematic examination that the situation of the "fat" legs and paws was not optimistic, and no new bones and nerve tissues had grown again. This result made everyone's mood hit rock bottom again. Director Zhou considered euthanizing "Fei Fei", but most of the staff objected.
They believe that with the progress of the times, veterinary medicine will continue to develop, and as long as "fat" is alive, there must be hope for recovery. In addition, everyone already regards "fat" as their own child, and emotionally cannot bear to give up. Director Zhou gave up the idea of euthanasia and underwent surgery again with "fat".
Despite the success of the operation, "fat" still could not restore exercise ability. However, its mental state has improved a lot and it has less pain. The staff still feeds it and undergoes rehabilitation in hopes of helping it regain function in its legs and paws. After unremitting efforts, the situation of fertilizer has improved.
"Fei Fei" has also become a local star because of this experience, and has attracted the attention and love of people from all walks of life. It became the "nail household" of the Shenyang Raptor Rescue Center of the Shenyang Wildlife Conservation Association. This story teaches us that human connection and interaction with the natural world is important, and that animals are also able to generate feelings of trust and attachment.
epilogue
No matter how weak the connection between humans and animals, every effort should be made to protect and rescue animals. The vulture story makes us think about the relationship between humans and animals, and our responsibilities as members of the natural world. Animals are an indispensable part of nature, and we should respect them and strive to live in harmony with them.