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Unforeseen consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: Increased frequency of kite-string injuries in magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

Part of: AWF Wild Animal Welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

DW Goldberg ,
RET Vanstreels ,
MM Alcala ,
R Hurtado ,
PF Mantovani ,
LST Cunha ,
PP Serafini  and
AF Barbosa
DW Goldberg*
Affiliation:
Econservation Estudos e Projetos Ambientais, Edifício Work Center, Salas 1113-1116, Rua José Alexandre Buaiz 300, Enseada do Suá, Vitória, ES, 29050-580, Brazil
RET Vanstreels
Affiliation:
Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, ES, Brazil
MM Alcala
Affiliation:
Econservation Estudos e Projetos Ambientais, Edifício Work Center, Salas 1113-1116, Rua José Alexandre Buaiz 300, Enseada do Suá, Vitória, ES, 29050-580, Brazil
R Hurtado
Affiliation:
Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, ES, Brazil
PF Mantovani
Affiliation:
Síntese Serviços Veterinários, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
LST Cunha
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
PP Serafini
Affiliation:
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres (CEMAVE), Instituto Chico Mendes para a Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
AF Barbosa
Affiliation:
Coordenação de Licenciamento Ambiental de Exploração de Petróleo e Gás, Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
*
* Contact for correspondence: daphwrobel@gmail.com
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Abstract

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Kite flying is a popular hobby and sport for children and adults. Despite being illegal in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, the use of abrasive threads remains widespread and poses a health risk to both humans and animals. In this study, we analysed the records of 462 magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) submitted to rehabilitation centres or found dead along the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro state from October 2016 to August 2020. Of these, 244 individuals (52.8%) presented wing lesions consistent with kite-string injury, which can have a critical impact on the ability of frigatebirds to fly and will ultimately cause their death. Even when veterinary care is provided, only a small proportion of the individuals (2%) will fully recover the ability to fly in order to be released back to the wild. In 2020, an atypical increase in the number of individuals with kite-string injuries (~1,200% increase compared to other years) was noted in the weeks following the suspension of school activities and commerce in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of frigatebirds with kitestring injuries recorded in a given week was positively correlated with internet searches for kite-related terms, which also peaked during the quarantine period of the COVID-19 pandemic. This illustrates how pandemic events may aggravate existing human-wildlife conflicts, and how preparedness plans need to incorporate measures to help communities cope with boredom and isolation during quarantine in ways that do not negatively impact the welfare and conservation of wildlife.

Keywords

animal welfarehuman-wildlife conflictkite flyingmanjhapandemicseabird
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , May 2021 , pp. 109 - 116
Copyright
© 2021 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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