Pelicans and Painted Stork

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.