Bird flu reaches Schönbrunn

All pelicans in the Tiergarten Schönbrunn were euthanized yesterday. They were found to be infected with the H5N8 avian flu virus and this measure was necessary to protect the remaining 800 or so birds. This news hurts me deeply.

Entering the zoo from the back entrance, the pelicans were always the biggest eye-catcher. Their enclosure was freely visible from several sides and therefore ideal for photography. The pelicans always proudly stretched their feathers towards the sun. Next to them sat the crows, anxious to get something from the fish, and crowed loudly - almost somewhat mockingly because of the intensive feather care of their large conspecifics. I spent countless hours in their presence, watching them build their nests, feed and clean their feathers.

For a few weeks I have been working on a short story, the first lines of which begin in the pelican enclosure. So impressively the image of these animals, their interactions and movements is burned into my mind. Schönbrunn Zoo and the pelicans - for me they belonged inseparably together. Now they are gone and I cannot believe it yet. The virus is not contagious for humans, but the other birds in the zoo are still endangered.

The ruffed pelican colony at Schönbrunn was one of the largest in zoos worldwide. Who knows if there will be any to see again soon?

Last year, the peacocks already had to give way. Also one of my favorite memories, because the blue peacocks and the white one were allowed to move freely in the zoo. So you met the three birds at every visit at a different place. Sometimes they would do a beautiful cartwheel, other times they would be dozing on the side of the path. I liked to linger near them, from a safe distance of course, and watch them. They were meditative. A new home was ultimately sought for the animals because of incidents with visitors. For a special peacock feather or an extraordinary photo, they also liked to step too close to the animals.

What remains today is the sadness over the loss of the beautiful animals and the hope that the other birds will be spared.