WVI’s Johanna Storm continues to support birds injured in the kite festival

Avian surgeon Johanna Storm continued to pass on her expertise to vets during the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India. This is the second year that she has supported the Jivdaya Charitable Trust at their makeshift surgery disentangling and patching up hundreds of birds of prey and water birds that are injured by the razor sharp string used to cut down opponent kites.

Last year Johanna and the JCT team increased the number of birds of prey surviving their trauma and surgery to 97%. This year she concentrated on pre and post operative care to ensure that the birds not only survived their injuries but were in good condition when released back into the wild.

Birds arrive in a terrible state having struggled against the strong cutting strings for hours, even days. They are dehydrated and most frequently have severe trauma to the frontal edge of their wings. Unlucky ones will have broken wing and legs bones as well.

This year WVI initiated giving fluids to the birds on arrival at the clinic to kick-start recovery and the correct nutrition was provided once the birds had come round from anaesthesia. This is particularly difficult with carnivorous species as the provision of meat goes against the Jain culture. JCT staff and volunteers embraced the concept when they saw positive effects.

VetArk donated Critical Care Formula which is nutrition specifically aimed at animals that have been through trauma and/or surgery and some meat was able to be supplied.

Together with training on how to force feed the different species, the new nutritional plan has had an enormous positive effect with birds recovering fitness quicker and to a higher level.

A BBC film crew (see above) with WVI patron, Steve Leonard, was also in attendance filming “Operation Wild” which he is co-hosting with Clare Balding. It is a 3 part series about operations and healthcare of large animals both in remote locations and captivity. It is due to be broadcast on BBC1 (UK) and PBS (USA) in September 2014.

It was fantastic for our patron to visit another of WVI’s projects. Steve came back full of admiration for what the Jivdaya Charitable Trust achieve in the face of such onslaught (they see ~2000 birds over 2-3 weeks). As a small animal surgeon himself, Steve was most impressed by Johanna’s surgical skills (and the Indian food). Perhaps he learnt a thing or two!

For a full background to the kite festival and its effect on 1000s of birds please see the project’s page here. WVI aims to continue its support for JCT in 2015.

In June 2014, Steve will head out to Zimbabwe to assist the Zimbabwean Veterinary Department and Painted Dog Conservation in the mobile vaccination and minor injuries clinic that are run every two years.

The aim of the clinics is to improve the health and welfare of the domestic dogs living around Hwange National Park and thereby create a disease barrier. As the domestic dogs are valued by their owners, the local communities can see they benefit directly from the existance of the endangered African painted dogs.

Thank you

to the Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust, Mahavir Trust and those who took part in Johanna’s annual raffle.

Our sponsors have enabled us to continue our valuable work in India.

Other news from WVI

Avian and reptile specialist Andrew Greenwood has just arrived in Mauritius to update himself on the brilliant conservation work that WVI’s partners Mauritian Wildlife Foundation are up to.

One of their current key projects is to re-establish seabird colonies that once existed on Ile aux Aigrettes.

Nestlings from successful colonies of native seabirds such as the white-tailed tropicbird (above) are moved to Ile aux Aigrettes where they are hand reared until they fledge.

It is hoped that fledged birds will return 4-5 years later, form pairs and breed the first generation that will be native to the island.

Andrew will be checking translocation and handrearing protocols whilst training staff in sample collection and the threats from disease.

Inbetween trips to Mauritius, Andrew is able to advise MWF by email and phone. It is important therefore that he has a good idea of MWF’s current projects.

Andrew is due to return in early May.

Click here for more information on MWF’s seabird project.

Win a trip with a zoo vet – details of the draw

Fancy doing the rounds with TV vet Matt Brash around Flamingoland, Yorkshire, or big cat expert John Lewis around Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Kent?

Aimed at veterinary practices in the UK our competition, launched at BSAVA 2014, continues.

Practices that pledge to raise £100 by the end of the year will be sent a fundraising pack that includes posters for the waiting room, articles for newsletters, fundraising ideas and leaflets.

For every £100 that the practices manage to raise, we will enter them into a draw to win an experience with a zoo vet.

Email Olivia Walter on info@wildlifevetsinternational.org for more information.

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