Guwahati, 8th September: A heartbreaking discovery unfolded in Assam’s Jorhat district, where a significant number of Asian openbill storks were found dead following a severe storm. While the exact count is yet to be determined, approximately 30-40 lifeless birds were discovered along the riverbank in Bhognia village.
It is suspected that heavy rain and lightning during the night between Thursday and Friday may have led to the demise of these birds. After the storm subsided, villagers in the area were shocked to find the birds on the ground while going about their daily activities on Friday morning.
Efforts were made to revive some of the birds through treatment, but the majority of them remained deceased. The tragic discovery has cast a pall of sorrow over the village.
The Asian openbill stork is a distinctive wading bird primarily found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is characterized by its greyish or white plumage with glossy black wings and tail, along with a unique gap between the arched upper mandible and recurved lower mandible in adults.