Get chirpy at country's first interactive exotic bird park opens up at Essel World

Mumbaikars can now spend quality time in the company of Dudu- the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rio the blue and yellow macaw, Hulk the Eclectus parrot and several other such beautiful exotic birds at the EsselWorld Bird Park, which is India's first interactive bird park located at Gorai village, Borivali.

Spread over almost 1.5 acre of a rainforest themed terrain, tourists can take a walk through the aviary where over 500 birds belonging to 60 different exotic species including terrestrial, aquatic and high gliding birds are housed, most of which roam freely providing, visitors and bird enthusiasts an opportunity of watching the birds from very close distance. For the safety purpose and to ensure that the birds do not escape, the entire bird park has been covered with a 50-foot tall mesh cage.

Flt Lt (Retd) Anand Lamdhade, vice-president- new projects said that the bird park took almost three years to shape up as construction took about a year's time while rest was spent in the procurement of birds from certified breeders and then allowing them to acclimatise, train and bond with the bird handlers.

"Since this was a first of its kind exotic bird park in the country, right from the start a lot of study and planning was done. All activities were closely monitored and led by an expert and globally experienced team of bird behaviourists and handlers from Catalonia Spain who trained a team of 10 bird handlers. We also have on board Dr Rina Dev an avian and exotic specialist," informed Lamdhade.

Rajesh N, a robotics engineer who found his calling in being a bird handler and has been with the bird park for past two years said that all the birds had acclimatised to this surrounding very well and many like Cape barren goose have bred successfully while many others have laid eggs and incubating it. "The surroundings have been designed keeping all their needs in mind, be it the feeding houses, their shelters. Also, all of them are trained and know their feeding time," he said adding that the dedicated kitchen dishes out seven different types of diets for seven days and the birds are fed six times a day," he said.

While the bird park is a walk-through aviary, it also houses mini aviaries. "The birds when procured from the breeders are first quarantined and after spending a designated time are shifted to these mini aviaries which are enclosed where they are studied and allowed to bond with bird handlers and also trained post which they are released in the open aviary," informed Rajesh.

While birds are the main attraction, visitors exploring the space will also be left awed by around 400 species of plants handpicked and planted by a dedicated team of horticulturists including the Gigantic Victorian Lily, Jurassic –era oriented Tree ferns, the Maharashtra's State flower and over 20 types of cacti. All the plantations have been done keeping in mind the needs of the birds.

Pic- Aadesh Choudhari/DNA

BIRDS HOUSED

• High gliding birds: African grey parrot, Blue gold Macaw, Cockatiel, Rainbow lorikeet, Toucan, Black lorry, Violet turaco
   
• Terrestrial birds: California quail, Golden pheasant, Ostrich
   
• Aquatic bird: Black swan, American wood duck, Mandarin duck