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  4. 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

Flamingos are the latest animals to take over as people shelter in place as they descend in record numbers on Mumbai
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.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

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.

Read the original article on Insider

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.

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.

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

Wild turkeys took over a playground in California and goats roamed the streets of a Welsh town, Business Insider previously reported. One flock of sheep even thought it would be a good time to visit McDonald's.

Flamingo migration is not the only environment change Mumbai has seen since the lockdown went into effect, the air quality has also improved.

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

According to CNN, Mumbai experiences the best air quality "on record" in March.

The metrics came from a recent analysis by IQAir, a global air quality information and tech company.

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.

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

Apparently, the birds are also spreading to wetlands and expanding where they go.

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)

Rahul Khot, assistant director at the Bombay Natural History Society, told CNN that flamingos in wetlands are a rarity, but they're migrating there this year.

"They are being reported from places where they have earlier been reported less in number because there is no human activity there now," Khot told CNN.

The Bombay Natural History Society said they've already seen a 25% increase compared to last year.

The Bombay Natural History Society said they
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

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.

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.

Residents say they
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

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