39 flamingos were found dead across various parts of Ghatkopar East after colliding with an Emirates plane landing at Mumbai airport on Monday night.
The retrieval operation, led by forest department officer Amol Bhagwat and supported by the Maharashtra Security Force, commenced around 10 PM following multiple complaints from local residents. Around 29 carcasses were found on Monday late night and another 10 on Tuesday morning.
The flamingos, migrating northwards, collided with the Emirates flight from Dubai to Mumbai as it prepared to land at around 9 PM. The pilots reported the bird strike to Air Traffic Control shortly after landing at 9:15 PM.
Children playing near the Ghatkopar-Andheri Link Road raised the alarm, exclaiming that "it's raining dead birds", Indian Express reported. The residents discovered flamingo carcasses scattered over a half-kilometre radius. One bird, initially rescued alive, succumbed to its injuries shortly after.
The carcasses were sent to Airoli for post-mortem examinations. A team from Sanjay Gandhi National Park has been assigned to the autopsy, with results expected in four to five days.
Experts and activists have voiced concerns over the incident, attributing it to poor urban planning.
The tragedy has spurred environmentalists to intensify their campaigns to protect Navi Mumbai's biodiversity.
Past incidents indicate a troubling pattern. Last month, 12 flamingos died in Navi Mumbai, with activists blaming light pollution. Earlier this year, two flamingos were killed—one collided with a signboard and another was hit by a speeding vehicle on Palm Beach Road.
Flamingos typically visit the wetlands of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region from November to May, migrating from breeding sites in Gujarat and Iran.
As urban development continues to encroach on natural habitats, the balance between human activity and wildlife conservation grows increasingly fragile.
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