Taman Rimba Kiara is a little green gem located in a corner of the TTDI residential area. The above flowering tree, the firmiana malayana or mata lembu, flashes in testimony to man's care-less-ness - it's one of only two trees in the park that had flowered, since then the tree had been chopped down.

Friday, 16 March 2018

A cruel fate befell the Juvy


Day 34th, alerted that a bird had fallen down, I hurried to the taman and was dismay to discover that it was the juvy Crested Goshawk!
It was already in quite a sorry state, with a blinded eye and a large portion of its tiny tongue hanging out.  Flies were already getting to it, and it must have been in that state for a while because it looked desperate and struggled to call out, and also as if it was in hunger.




It made a weak effort to ward off advances to help it.  However, it did make it a couple of feet away when I tried to get to it, with a cloth hoping to wrap it and ferry it off to the vet.  The situation got pretty desperate when even the smaller White-throated Kingfisher tried to intimidate it.
It was seen to try and shake off the flies and even to get its maimed tongue back into its mouth.



A heartbreaking sight.


After ensuring that it was looked after while I was off to get my car, I returned to find that it had managed to fly to a low branch for coverage when a migrant raptor/visitor to the taman, an Oriental Honey-buzzard, came by. (more on this visitor in the next post)



It must have taken it a tremendous effort to fly up because when I approached, with help from a group of park helpers to retrieve it, it hardly moved, seemingly tired out.  Eventually this park helper managed to bring it down, unfortunately to have his palm scratched by a sharp claw in the process.


The juvy was finally sent to the vet clinic at Universiti Putra Malaysia, immediately went into surgery, and many are still anxiously awaiting news of its well-being after being informed that it was confirmed to be badly injured.

No comments: