DC Exclusive: Australian Shelduck makes an unexpected landing in Hyderabad

The Australian Shelduck seems seen at the Hyderabad Golf Club.
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad has had an unexpected visitor from across the seas. Officials and bird watchers were spellbound after spotting an female Australian shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) at the Hyderabad Golf Club on January 22.
Experts believe that the bird might have been smuggled into India and it managed to escape. This species, native to Australia and Tasmania, has not been seen in India before, which adds to the mystery of its unexpected appearance in Hyderabad.
The shelduck was seen near a water body at the golf club. It appeared healthy, was flying well, and had no clipped wings.
What stood out was the yellow tag on its leg, bearing a six-digit number (AUAV 28 97 14). This tag is a crucial clue in tracing the bird’s origin.
In India, only authorised organisations like the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) are allowed to tag birds and private collectors in Australia tag their birds. Tagging helps track migration patterns and population trends, making it possible to understand where the bird came from.
Experts are considering multiple possibilities. One theory is that the shelduck might have escaped from captivity. Its friendly behaviour towards humans and other birds suggest that it was raised in a controlled environment.
Zoo authorities in Hyderabad have confirmed that they do not have this species in their collection, making it unlikely that it escaped from a local facility.
Sri Ram, a bird watcher from Hyderabad, said, “The bird seems comfortable around people and other birds, which is not typical for wild birds, as they usually fly away when they see humans. The Australian Shelduck lives in freshwater and brackish wetlands. There have been a few sightings in Europe, mostly thought to be escapees.”
Another possibility is that the bird was imported illegally. Exotic species are sometimes smuggled across borders and kept as pets or in private collections. While some birds can be legally imported, conservationists are unsure if this Shelduck was brought into India through official channels.
The Australian shelduck is not listed under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), and is not protected under India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is illegal to own this bird in India.
Importing live birds requires special permission, including an import license from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Officials are now investigating how the bird arrived in the city, with the forest department and zoo authorities expected to conduct a detailed inquiry.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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