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Red-legged Crake released after rescue

on 27th April 2009


The Red-legged Crake (Rallina fasciata) that was picked up by Steven Chong and handed over to Angie Ng and Joe Lim on 16th April 2009 has a happy ending.

Angie placed the crake in a cage, “it ignored all food and water, but managed to stand upright and slept through the night standing. It seemed tired and just wanted to close its eyes.” The next morning it appeared stronger, struggling when Angie tried to handle it. The bird was then given to Joe Lim to nurse it.

The bird was dazed the whole of the 18th. Outside of the cage it remained still in an upright position, sometimes with head hanging down and the right eye closed, the left slightly opened. Joe gently stroked its head and fed it some mealworms. It was also fed with glucose solution, Inside the cage the bird was able to perch on a branch and walk about, although it preferred to stand in the container of water.

Early the next morning (19th April), it managed to squeeze out of the cage and was perching by the window still of Joe’s 20th level apartment. It was returned to its cage before it flew off. Again it escaped and had to be transferred to a smaller cage where it became active and had both its eyes open. This was taken as a good sign and it was decided to release it.

It was taken to where it was found, prodded out of the cage and it immediately flew into the trees beyond.

Images by Angie Ng.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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