Bird suspected to have flown from Europe caught in Cross River (Check this out!)

Residents of Cross River State got a visit from migratory bird suspected to have flown into Nigeria from Riga, capital of the Republic of Latvia in Europe.

According to Raphael Ogar Oko who shared photos of the bird on Facebook, the bird may have flown from a zoo in the European country.

The bird was caught by the two men in Okpoma, the headquarters of Yala Local Government Area of Cross River state on Sunday, January 17.   

“The bird below seems to have flew from Latvia Riga and landed in one of our rivers in Okpoma area where it was caught at the riverside by the gentlemen below. The bird has a ring and a number on its leg. It may have moved from a zoo.” he said. 

It is not yet clear if NESREA or any Nigerian agency in charge of protecting wildlife have been contacted yet.

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), is responsible for the protection of endangered species of wildlife in the country.

While more details of the bird is being awaited, it worthy of note that this is not the first time a bird has flawn from Europe to this part of the world.

A Peregrine falcon from Finland flew into Ofagbe town, Delta state, Nigeria in November, 2020. Unfortunately, the bird was killed before it could be saved. A reference on the bird read: “Museum 200L Helsinki Finland”.

The photos of the bird was shared on Twitter by @wakajugbe.

ANOTHER BIRD SPOTTED IN KENYA

Similarly, on January 20, 2020, a rare migratory bird known as Osprey also flew all the way from Finland to Kenya, covering a distance of 6,948 kilometres or 4,317 miles to land in West Imbo in Bondo, Siaya County.

Walter Oloo, a member of the community, spotted the bird and reported to the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) team in Siaya.

The bird’s origin was established from a reference ring on its leg, whose details show that it was ringed in Helsinki, Finland.

It was reportedly caught in a fishing net and had struggled to free itself, according to a press statement released by Paul Odoto, the KWS Communications Director.