News: After Cyclone Hudhud, painted storks and pelicans now roam freely at Visakhapatnam’s zoo, displaying their elegance and charm in a natural setting.
About Pelicans
- Pelicans are large, water-dwelling birds known for their distinctive throat pouches and impressive wingspans.
- Pelicans are highly social birds, living in colonies of hundreds.
- Pelicans are carnivorous, primarily feeding on fish. They employ various hunting techniques: Scoop Fishing, Plunge Diving and Cooperative Hunting.
- Habitat: Pelicans primarily inhabit coastal regions, rivers, and large inland water bodies. that provide abundant fish. They are found on all continents except Antarctica.
- Conservation status: While most pelican species are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, some like spot-billed pelican are considered Near-Threatened.
About Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)
- The painted stork is a wading bird commonly found along shorelines.
- Distribution: Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
- Physical characteristics:
- A large stork with a long, yellow bill that curves downward at the tip, resembling that of an ibis..
- Distinct features include a bright orange face, pinkish legs, and a speckled band across the chest.
- They are predominantly non-migratory and most make only local movements and are social in nature.
- Conservation Status: Listed as Near Threatened (NT) by the IUCN.
