2 weeks Ago By Sachin Sharma
Vadodara: Most people expected crocodile nests to pose a challenge during the resectioning of the Vishwamitri river . However, volunteers and officials working now have an interesting task at hand — artificially incubating other eggs found. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has made arrangements for the protection of animals in the Vishwamitri during the resectioning work.
Resectioning was a major suggestion by the high-level committee formed for flood mitigation. The VMC's own staff, including officials of the zoo department along with forest officials and volunteers working on wildlife rescue, keep a close eye on the work undertaken. The area where digging is to be done is searched for animals, with one volunteer posted with each excavator to ensure that any animals or eggs are brought to safety before work begins.
"Initially, a 50 to 100 metre stretch is searched thoroughly, and machine operators are given the go-ahead for dredging. The volunteer with the excavator ensures that if any animals or eggs were missed earlier, they are also taken care of," said VMC's zoo curator Pratyush Patankar. Since the work gained momentum after Holi, volunteers spotted turtle eggs on Sunday and lapwing eggs on Friday.
These have now been kept for artificial incubation at the Sayajibaug Zoo hospital. The collecting of the lapwing eggs and bringing them to safety proved a difficult task as they were at a location behind the Ratri Bazaar near VUDA Circle, where the riverbank slope was steep. "Fire brigade personnel, who are also present during the resectioning, were called and a rope was used to reach the eggs.
These were then handed over to us," said Patankar. The turtle eggs have been kept in an incubation chamber made of soil and other natural materials. The lapwing's eggs will be hatched in an incubator in the zoo hatchery, where the proper temperature and other parameters will be maintained.
The turtles and lapwings that hatch will later be released into their natural environment. Stay updated with the latest city news , Air Quality Index (AQI), and weather updates for major cities like Delhi , Mumbai , Noida , and Bangalore on Times of India ..
