The story of a heron, a plastic cup and a group of people determined to save a life has moved and outraged the whole world. The images of the bird with the container stuck in its throat, spread on social media by Brazilian veterinarian Jeferson Piresquickly went around the web, becoming a symbol of fight against plastic pollution and his devastating impact on wildlife.
The heron, belonging to the species Ardea cocoithe largest in South America, was first sighted by Pires on the banks of the Dead River in Rio de Janeiro. As Pires himself said, “after several days from when I found and photographed the gray heron with the glass around its neck”, it was finally possible to organize the capture. The logo of a well-known guarana drink was clearly visible on the glass that imprisoned the animal’s neckpreventing him from feeding and condemning him to a slow and painful death.
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The mobilization to save the heron was immediate. Pires, with the support of various environmental organizations, organized a complex capture and rescue operation. “This was only possible thanks to them, who took turns for several days,” explained Pires. “We set up a bait to plan a calm, safe and reliable capture for the animal,” he added, underlining the importance of putting the health and physical integrity of the heron first. Pires also said he received “several questions about how long the capture was taking,” but noted that “a procedure like this has to be very well organized and planned.”
After days of waiting and planning, the heron was finally captured and transported to the Centro de Recuperação de animais silvestres do Rio de Janeiro at the Stadio veterinary clinic – Vargem Pequena. Here, the animal was anesthetized to allow the glass to be removed safely. “We didn’t know if the glass was causing bleeding from large vessels or something and its sudden removal could have caused immediate death,” Pires said.
The delicate and complex operation revealed the presence of dermatitis at the point where “the heron’s beak had crossed the glass in the middle. It had descended from the head to the base of the neck and was positioned as if it were a necklace.” “Another perforation was also found, probably caused by the spine of some fish. It was sutured with a small stitch, with absorbable thread, so that future removal is not necessary.” Fortunately, the heron was in good health and, after being treated and treated, was released into its natural habitat.
The moment of liberation, full of emotion and hope, was immortalized in a video that shows the heron taking flight over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes riverin Rio de Janeiro. “God willing, he will find neither plastic nor glasses along the way,” commented Pires, expressing the hope of a pollution-free future for the heron and for all animals.
The story of this heron, renamed by the media “the heron with the glass”has turned the spotlight on the problem of plastic pollution, a plague that afflicts our planet and threatens the survival of countless animal species. “What we saw with this heron is how much these animals are affected by plastic,” the environmentalist said Isabelle de Loysunderlining the urgency of adopting responsible and sustainable behavior to protect the environment.
