A suburban veterinary hospital in Parel has reported admission of over 30 different animals and birds this week due to dehydration

The hospital authorities said that dehydration is a major threat to birds and animals. Meanwhile, the vets say that there has been a 30 to 40 per cent rise in dehydration cases. “Birds are more affected in the summers. Out of the cases, two are turtles, and birds including pigeons, eagles, owls and crows," they said

Mayur Dhangar, hospital manager at the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals said, “Due to the loss of body fluids, the birds get dehydrated. In the past three to four days, around 10 to 12 pigeons, three each - crows, owls, parrots, and some eagles have been admitted to the hospital, they are recovering. In most of cases, the birds and animals take 2-3 days to recover. In some cases, they can die too”

Dhangar said that in March, the hospital had admitted one or two cases daily but since the beginning of April, the number of cases have doubled

In Mumbai, 70 per cent of the bird population comprises of pigeons and the rest includes crows, kites, owls, koels, parrots and the sea and wetland birds

After the recovery, the crows and pigeons are left in the open at the hospital to fly, the wild birds are sent to the national park in Borivali