Wildlife rescuers help birds survive Pakistan’s hotter summers

ISLAMABAD: As temperatures in the federal capital consistently breach the 40 degrees Celsius mark, wildlife rescuers and environmental authorities are stepping up efforts to protect birds pushed to the brink by intense heatwaves. Following Pakistan’s warmest year on record in 2025, government officials and conservationists are witnessing a major shift in the threats facing local avian populations.

Sakhawat Ali, director of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and caretaker of the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Center, explained that while bird injuries were historically caused by glass-coated kite-flying strings, the primary threat over the last two years has transitioned to severe dehydration and extreme heat stress. The Margalla Wildlife Rescue Center, established on the grounds of the former Islamabad Zoo, has become the primary treatment hub for these birds. Wildlife officer Zaheer Ahmed stated that the center receives about 30 distress calls daily during the summer peak, prompting immediate deployment of rescue teams to retrieve and rehabilitate affected wildlife.

To combat the crisis, the rescue center provides immediate medical assistance, food, and water to the brought-in birds. Sick and dehydrated animals are placed in a dedicated quarantine facility where they remain under observation until they are fully recovered and fit for release. In addition to direct medical intervention, officials are actively mobilizing the public, urging citizens to place shallow water containers outside their homes so birds can drink and bathe to escape the heat. Rescuers are also facing the added challenge of forest fires in the Margalla Hills, which are exacerbated by the heatwaves and directly threaten birds during their critical breeding seasons.