[size=55:3l8k202t]BNR

Curious environmental stories



There was no electricity in the Hadzhi Dimitar neighbourhood in Sofia during one of the snowiest days of this winter. The reason – some newly born puppies, hidden by their mother in the building of a transformer in a schoolyard. An animal welfare organization alarmed the electricians of the CEZ Company, who managed to save the dogs. Representatives of the company said they hoped that the customers would show understanding in situations like this, since life was most important.
It is now springtime and many storks can be seen out in the fields. However, people from the town of Apriltsi were troubled, since a white stork chose to spend the winter in its nest, thus turning into a local star with the artistic name Boko. The whole town took care of the bird all over the winter, but now rumour has it that the other storks will kill Boko upon their return! It turned out that this was an old legend that was still pretty alive in people’s minds.

“There is no scientific proof of these legends, although they are very popular in many regions – Mr. Gradimir Gradev, a zoo expert with the Green Balkans Federation of NGOs explains. – However, it may turn out that the other storks may try to conquer the nest and territory of Boko. The worst thing that can happen is this stork to be pushed away from the nest from stronger and more experienced birds.”

Zoologists denied another romantic legend too – that Boko spent the winter in Apriltsi, grieving about his lost female partner.

“Such deep emotions have never been proved, as far as storks are concerned – Mr. Gradev says. – The reasons may be physiological, not emotional. For instance - a weakness due to some sort of illness. Or simply there was enough food on that territory. No matter what the reason was, it was definitely not the lost of a partner.”

Some hunters use artificial ducks to attract real ones, so that they can be shot from a very close distance. This is not something to be proud of. However, even a sicker practice exists – the usage of mutilated birds that are still alive.



“Those are tied up near a river, a swamp or a lake and they attract wild ducks with their honks – veterinarian Hristina Klisurova from the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre in the town of Stara Zagora explains. – The poachers hide somewhere nearby. The wild birds are attracted by the decoys and try to use the place for a rest. That is when they are all killed. Of course, this type of hunting is banned. The decoys were confiscated after we were alarmed. Parts of their wings were cut off, so that they couldn’t fly. Some of them had other kinds of injuries.”

The confiscated 18 mallard ducks and 2 big white-fronted geese were taken for a treatment at the Centre and they all feel very well at the moment.

“The good news that we spread for a first time is that these birds already started to lay eggs – Dr. Klisurova said. – We expect their offspring this year, which of course will be released at a safe place after growing up. The old birds will remain at the Centre for good, but we will try to provide the necessary conditions for their reproduction over the next years.”



A difficult surgery has been recently performed at the Centre. A bat with a broken wing received a metal plate in its bone that would keep it in the right position. The operation is called osteosynthesis and is a really complicated one, according to Dr. Slavi Tsekov, since the patient is a very small one – barely 7-8 cm in length and with a weight of 22 g. However, the X-ray examination that followed showed that the two parts of the bone were fixed correctly, Dr. Tsekov is proud to say.