Wreckage of AI-171 outside Ahmedabad airport
AHMEDABAD: Ahmedabad airport has undertaken a large-scale wildlife management operation to reduce the risk of bird and animal strikes around the airfield, five months after London-bound AI-171 crashed after take-off on June 12, killing all 241 people on board.In association with the forest department, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has begun relocating several species of birds and mammals found in and around the premises to areas at least 50–100 km away from the city.Officials said a major translocation drive involving 1,000 large fruit bats is currently underway. The bats, which roost in large numbers near Kotarpur, close to the airport along Sabarmati riverbank, are being captured and released in Polo Forest, a protected habitat about 150 km away.“Giant fruit bats became a particular concern,” said a source. “During night-time inspections, blood stains were often found on the runway or near aircraft, but there would be no feathers, hinting at bat strikes. Following these findings and based on recommendations from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the decision to translocate certain species was taken during a series of joint review meetings,” added the source. Other species being relocated include the red-wattled lapwing, yellow-wattled lapwing, black kite, Eurasian thick-knee, and blackheaded ibis. Species commonly found around SVPIA — such as the rock pigeon, cattle egret, house crow, Indian roller, and common mynah — continue to be monitored as part of ongoing wildlife hazard management, an official said.
