Africa-Press – Cape verde. A chick of a Gongon [Pterodroma feae], a seabird endemic to Cape Verde, was recovered after suffering a fall caused by light pollution, announced the biologist and executive director of the Associação Projecto Vitó, Herculano Dinis.
On his social media page, Dinis reported that the recovery took place after a child from the Beltches neighborhood, São Filipe, already aware of the importance of environmental preservation, found the cub and contacted the association.
The animal was rescued alive and is in the process of recovery before being returned to its natural habitat, said the biologist, who highlighted that the reproduction period is long and runs from November to June.
“The period between late May and early June is particularly critical for the species, as it marks the moment when the chicks leave the nest to take their first flight towards the sea. If they are unable to reach the ocean, their chances of survival are nil,” writes the biologist in a message published on Sunday, the 25th, on his personal page.
“In the last three days, this was the third baby Gongon rescued, two in Chã das Caldeiras and one in São Filipe. Unfortunately, one of the baby birds found in Chã did not survive,” lamented the biologist, for whom the falls in Chã das Caldeiras coincided with a night concert promoted by an international agency, without any prior coordination with the Fogo Natural Park team.
“The demonstration of environmental sensitivity and responsibility in Chã das Caldeiras was infinitely smaller than that demonstrated by the children of Beltches, who showed a clear example of environmental awareness”, said Herculano Dinis.
The association also regrets the stance of certain companies and institutions, which, despite having high social and environmental responsibility, have issued statements on social media that do little to protect biodiversity.
“In other parts of the world, there are protocols to turn off lights during critical periods to protect endangered species. Cape Verde is still far from this level of commitment, but signs like this show that investing in the education of the new generation is the way forward,” highlighted Herculano Dinis.
Fogo Island, classified as a World Biosphere Reserve, is home to one of the most important protected areas in the country, and continues to face serious challenges in preserving its unique species.
Gongon, a symbol of Cape Verdean biodiversity, increasingly depends on the conscious involvement of the entire society to survive.
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