- A black-necked stork with a rubber ring stuck around its beak was finally found near Najagarh jheel.
- The bird had been spotted by wildlife photographers in the Basai wetlands.
- The rescued stork, was taken to Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, where it was hand-fed fish and given water; by noon, it had gained enough strength to stand and react to its surroundings.
- Black-necked storks are waders, found in wetlands across south and south-east Asia, and in Australia. Carnivores, they eat mainly fish, smaller aquatic animals and water birds, and insects. Officials say that the rubber ring probably came from the thousands of plastic bottles found dumped in the Basai wetlands recently.
Basai wetlands
- It is located in Basai village in Gurgaon tehsil in Gurgaon district in Haryana, India, is a flora and fauna rich water body. It is recognised as one of India’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and is of global conservation significance as it supports populations of several endangered, vulnerable, and threatened bird species.
- The wetland, adjacent to Basai village, is a swathe of marshy swampland dotted with submerged and floating vegetation of tall grass and reed beds.
- Some rare birds like the water rail, spotted crake, grey-headed lapwing, red-throated pipit, water pipit, bimaculated lark and smoky warbler make this place their home while escaping the harsh season of their native land.
- In 2004, the Basai wetland was marked as an “Important Bird Area” by Birdlife International, a global conservation non-governmental organization, giving it the status of important habitat for conservation of bird population.
Sultanpur National Park
- Sultanpur National Park is a beautiful, located in the Gurgaon district of the state of Haryana. Sultanpur National Park is also known as Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary.
- The park is also named as Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary after this famous Indian ornithologist and naturalist to pay tribute to his miscellaneous efforts in natural conservation.
- Dominant flora-Dhok, khair, Tendu, Ber, Jamun, Banyan, Neem, Berberis, Acacia, Various grasses etc.
- Dominant fauna-Mammals – Blackbuck, Nilgai, Hog deer, Sambar, Wild dog, Caracal, Wild cat, Hedgehog, Mongoose, Striped hyena, Indian porcupine, Honey badger, Leopard etc.