Chandigarh’s First-of-Its-Kind Bird Ambulance Attends to Birds in Distress
Prince Mehra, 52 is an environmentally conscious person. For him, birds and animals are a part of our ecosystem and it is our duty to protect them and in turn, protect the environment. On a visit to Ferozpur in 2011, he noticed the carcasses of two pigeons disposed of near a roadside bin. He picked the carcasses and buried them, but this incident stayed in his mind even after he returned to Chandigarh. The messiah of birds, Mehra modified his bicycle and launched an ambulance service to tend to injured birds. He has spent the last 11 years caring for injured birds, gaining the moniker "Birdman." Mehra not only attends to injured birds but also disposes of the carcasses that are discovered by the side of the road. Speaking to PTI, he stated that carelessly discarding deceased birds can be harmful to both human and animal health. Mehra rides through his city in the bird ambulance containing all the necessary medical aid. If he spots a bird in distress, he immediately attends to it or brings it home. If the bird is grievously injured, he takes it to a veterinary hospital. Believing that birds also deserve a dignified burial, he digs pits and buries the carcasses, if the birds do not survive. Mehra also receives calls from people who inform him about an injured or dead bird. Since 2011, he has treated 1,150 birds and buried 1,254 birds. Soon, word spread about his noble mission and he received an e-bike from a nationalized bank, which he now uses to perform the ambulance service. The Chandigarh government has also acknowledged his work by presenting him with a state-level award.
