A special sight in Helvoirt and the surrounding area: a ringed pelican flies there. The Den Bosch animal ambulance reported on Tuesday that the bird is fluttering around freely. Now the big question is: who is this pelican’s owner?
A correspondent photographed the water bird on Tuesday when it walked through the meadows and flew around the area. The animal was seen near the Udenhoutseweg and Zwijnsbergen castle, among other places.
Because the animal is ringed, the bird must have an owner. The question is where he escaped. “We have already been in contact with various zoos and have approached the animal, but have not yet been able to capture it,” said an animal ambulance employee.
The pelican is not missing at the Beekse Bergen, ZooParc Overloon and Dierenrijk Nuenen parks, a spokesperson said. According to Remco Brok, bird keeper at Beekse Bergen, there are a few possibilities.
“People also keep them for trade.”
“He could have escaped from a zoo. That would be the most logical scenario. Sometimes they are also kept by private individuals. For example, if people keep them for trade. So he could also have flown away from someone’s home.”
According to Brok, a pink pelican can survive in the Netherlands for a while. As long as he has enough food. “They live near lakes and ponds and eat freshwater fish. There are plenty of them in the Netherlands. The weather is also good for a pelican at the moment.”
“The last thing you want is for you or the pelican to get hurt.”
Anyone who sees the animal should call animal ambulance. Trying to catch him yourself is not a good idea. “They have a sharp beak with which they can defend themselves. The last thing you want is for the pelican, or the person trying to catch it, to get hurt.”
According to Brok, there is a chance that he will return on his own to where he came from. He could also join another colony, for example if he comes near a zoo with other pink pelicans. “In the event that he is captured, you hope that his ring number will help you find out who he belongs to.”
In the wild, the pink pelican is only found in parts of southeastern Europe, Africa, Asia and India. People who see the animal are asked to immediately call the animal ambulance: 073 614 60 70.
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