A DEDICATED vet surgeon from St Helens paid a flying visit to India to help care for dozens of wild birds that were critically injured during a major festival.
Dr Sofia Saraiva swapped the high-tech facilities of Rutland House Veterinary Hospital where she usually works to volunteer at a wildlife centre in Gujarat, India, for ten days.
Instead of soaking up the sunshine beside a pool, Sofia used her annual leave to work with fellow volunteer vets and vet nurses with the Jivdaya Charitable Trust which rescues, treats and rehabilitates birds.
Every year, thousands of people fly kites for the Makar Sankranti festival in Gujarat to mark the arrival of spring.
However, many birds are seriously injured by flying into the kite strings which are made to be razor sharp to cut through an opponent’s thread during mid-air fights.
Sofia is part of the team at Rutland House Vets that cares for exotic species and is working towards her Certificate in Zoological Medicine.
During her visit, she used her skills and expertise to look after many black kites as well as barn owls, spotted owlets, spot-billed pelicans, painted storks and Coppersmith barbet.
Sofia said: “Volunteering gives you a fresh perspective by seeing other cultures and different ways of working and it is good to have a reality check to make you appreciate what you have.”
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