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Flamingos are the latest animals to take over as people shelter in place as they descend in record numbers on Mumbai
Flamingos are the latest animals to take over as people shelter in place as they descend in record numbers on Mumbai
Sarah Al-ArshaniMay 2, 2020, 12:02 IST
A flock of flamingos flies in a pond during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Navi Mumbai on April 20, 2020INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images
Flamingos have flocked to Mumbai earlier than they're normal migration time, CNN reported.
Last year a record 134,000 flamingos were counted in the area but this year 125,000 had already been counted before the coronavirus lockdown disrupted tracking efforts.
Flamingos are not the only animals flocking to places as humans stay inside to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
As India remains under lockdown, flamingos are flocking to Mumbai, CNN reported.
Rahul Khot, assistant director at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), which monitors the flamingos, told CNN that flamingos typically migrate to Mumbai from September through May.
Take a look at the swarms of Flamingos across Mumbai.
Many countries across the globe have some sort of lockdown measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus, as more than 3 million cases have been recorded and over 238,000 people have died.
Flamingos are seen in a pond during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Navi Mumbai on April 20, 2020.
INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images
Wild animals all across the world have been taking advantage of humans being cooped up at home.
Flamingoes are seen in huge numbers behind NRI colony in Talawe wetland, Nerul, during nationwide lockdown due to Coronavirus, on April 18, 2020 in Mumbai, India.
Pratik Chorge/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
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Flamingo migration is not the only environment change Mumbai has seen since the lockdown went into effect, the air quality has also improved.
Flamingoes are seen in huge numbers behind NRI colony in Talawe wetland, Nerul, during nationwide lockdown due to Coronavirus, on April 18, 2020 in Mumbai, India.
Pratik Chorge/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Some of the areas, such as the Thane Creek and the Talawe wetland, where the flamingos have been spotted in large numbers, usually have a lot of construction and fishing.
Flamingoes are seen in huge numbers behind NRI colony in Talawe wetland, Nerul, during nationwide lockdown due to Coronavirus, on April 18, 2020 in Mumbai, India.
Pratik Chorge/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
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Apparently, the birds are also spreading to wetlands and expanding where they go.
Flamingos are seen in a pond during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Navi Mumbai on April 20, 2020.
INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
The Bombay Natural History Society said they've already seen a 25% increase compared to last year.
A flock of flamingos flies in a pond during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Navi Mumbai on April 20, 2020.
INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images
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Some experts believed that since people are at home and not moving around as much, that created an opportunity for more flamingos to migrate and have access to food.
A flock of flamingos flies in a pond during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Navi Mumbai on April 20, 2020.
INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images
Residents say they're spotting a lot more flamingos than usual, with large numbers of the birds relaxing around the mudflats of Thane Creek.
Flamingos are seen in a pond during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Navi Mumbai on April 20, 2020.
INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images