When Omar El Oud and his father were out fishing, he noticed a gigantic white bird in the middle of the sea. They recognized it was a stranded pelican in desperate need of assistance when they got closer.
“When we initially recovered Ovi, he was bleeding from a leg wound, and we saw his flying feathers were missing, as well as the fact that he was filthy,” El Oud told The Dodo. “We found he had a fever afterward.”
They brought the pelican back to shore, and El Oud researched how to care for the bird. With the help of the wildlife rehabilitation group Lebanese Wildlife, they were able to nurse Ovi back to health.
El Oud trained Ovi through positive reinforcement so he could better care for him and Ovi quickly caught on. “When he acted well, I’d give him a fish, and when he didn’t I’d just ignore it,” El Oud said. “In less than a day, he became a very friendly bird toward me. [He’s a] very intelligent animal.”
Ovi could no longer fly great distances without his flying feathers, which were very likely plucked by illicit wildlife traffickers. Fortunately, he was already at the ideal location to regain his vigor.
Ali, El Oud’s father, is the manager of Beirut’s Abou Mounir Fishery, a beachside restaurant. Ali was confident that Ovi would be secure at the marina, where the family is well-liked by the residents and fishermen. Protecting and caring for Ovi quickly became a collaborative endeavor.
El Oud fed Ovi around the port until the pelican figured out where the fish came from and became the restaurant’s most loyal patron.
Ovi now waddles into the packed café many times a day for a snack. “Basically, he hangs out down the street from the restaurant and does whatever he wants,” El Oud explained. “However, if he’s hungry and wants something to eat, he’ll come upon his own since he realizes that’s where the food comes from.”
So I was having a bite with a couple of friends by the corniche when this fella wonders in. Apparently, he's been visiting for the past month, looked after by the cafe owner and fishermen. And for a few minutes, the world was beautiful again. #Beirut pic.twitter.com/EGQSnq0gXE
— Lin Noueihed (@LinNoueihed) September 9, 2020
Most of the people at the marina are ignored by Ovi, but he has established a unique affinity with El Oud and his father. He enjoys having his back and chest scratched, but only by those he trusts. El Oud stated, “He occasionally follows us around and even attempts to connect with us verbally.”
Ovi is healthy and satisfied with his life in the marina a year after his rescue, but El Oud wishes that people had never intervened in his life so that he might have stayed wild.
El Oud stated, “Something like this should never have happened.” “Ovi should not have been in this situation, but sadly, Lebanese bird laws are not adequately enforced.”
Ovi has become a restaurant mascot, but his family hopes he may also serve as a representation of how to engage responsibly with wildlife. “Everyone here looks after him. Ali El Oud told The National, “He’s become the emblem of this town.” “Hopefully, he will not get domesticated and will return to his homeland.” We want him to live the kind of life that a pelican deserves.”
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