[Vangelis Bougiotis/InTime News]
A young flamingo was released back into the wild on Tuesday after receiving care at a wildlife rehabilitation center, officials said, marking a rare and celebratory moment for local conservationists. The bird, visibly exhausted, had been found injured in the Peloponnese during its migratory journey to Africa.
Staff from ANIMA, a wildlife care center, provided medical attention and rehabilitation before transferring the flamingo to the coastal wetland of Moustos in Argolida for release by personnel from the Natural Environment and Climate Change Organization, the government agency responsible for wildlife and habitat protection.
The event was attended by students from Athens College. The flamingo’s return to its natural habitat offered an educational opportunity for children to witness conservation in action, officials said.
“The release of this young flamingo highlights the importance of protecting migratory birds and their habitats,” the center said. “It is a reminder that human care can help wildlife survive the challenges of migration.”