Dozens of birds were killed in a fire that broke out last week in the heron nesting colony in the Golden Park in Kiryat Shmona, but an optimistic bright spot can be seen in the fact that more than 20 birds, all small chicks that cannot fly, were saved thanks to a group of JNF guides at Agamon Hula and animal sciences students from Tel Hai Academic College.
In a rescue mission that lasted more than 4 hours, and in coordination with the many firefighters who arrived at the scene, the instructors and students mobilized to rescue and rescue the birds, which could not escape the fire, which apparently broke out following a barbecue that was lit there. Some were rescued with burns and burned feathers.
The chicks were quickly transferred to the front wildlife clinic at Agamon Hula to receive initial treatment. They were examined, given fluids and vitamins and, depending on the injuries, treated for burns, pain relief and bandages, and left overnight in heating. The care of the chicks will continue until they are returned to the wild.
Some of the chicks that were rescued safely, photo: Daniella Alpert - JNF
Itai Mizrahi, a caregiver at the Agamon Hula Wildlife Acculution Center who arrived first at the scene of the fire, said that as soon as he received the call about the fire, he and his friends arrived in the area with a first aid kit. After about 45 minutes of waiting, they got permission and entered the area. "In an area that until recently was a nesting colony, there were bodies scattered on the ground. Among the nests were herons of all kinds that fled in an attempt to seek shelter, while all the adult herons flew over us," he recalled. "The situation on the ground was not simple and the sights were difficult, but amid all the chaos, we managed to rescue quite a few birds from a variety of species, and thanks to the clinic we were able to give them quick treatment, and hopefully we will be able to return them to the wild soon."
The wildlife acclimatization center at Agamon Hula was established by the Jewish National Fund in cooperation with Tel Hai Academic College, with the aim of providing a solution for wild animals and injured birds in the Galilee and Golan Heights.
One of the rescued chicks receives medical treatment // Photo: Daniella Alpert - KKL-JNF
"The situation on the ground was not simple." The rescuers, last week, photo: Daniella Alpert - KKL-JNF
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us