'Green Slippers Please!'
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What do you do when a little baby bird is born with curled toes - buy it a pair of bright green slippers of course! At least that's what happened at Paradise Park, a wildlife sanctuary for endangered birds in Cornwall .
'Little Crane', was a miracle chick to begin with - In the past eggs laid by its mother had not done so well, because she always laid them inside rather than outside her hut. So when it happened one more time, the people at the park decided to take them and help hatch them safely.
There was great excitement when the little baby peered out of the shell - But when it started to walk around the park, the staff noticed the curled toes, which meant that its feet were not developing the way they should. If not fixed it could mean that the bird may not survive.
So they decided to put tiny green bandages that looked like slippers when wrapped around each toe - and sure enough, within a few days, the little chick was waddling around, toes all straightened out. Now all they need to do is feed it with lots of mealworms, so that it can grow strong enough to be introduced to the rest of its family!
The Grey African Crowned Crane, a native of Uganda, is the country's national bird and featured prominently on its flag. They are omnivores that feed on grass seeds, insects and other small creatures. Sadly though, these beautiful birds are on the endangered list because they are losing their habitat to pollution, overgrazing and population growth. At least 'Little Crane' is safe!
sources: paradisepark.org.uk.
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85 Comments
soccergod123over 12 yearsI'm still wondering if the slippers have to be changed every day or week or month or what?
noelleabout 12 yearsI had stuff like that when I broke my toe a month ago. It can generally last for about a week if you`re careful!
swirlylollypopsover 12 yearssuch a cute bird! I really think the green slippers make the bird cuter!
borntoswimover 12 yearsthat is so cute- Crystal&Baylyover 12 yearswhat was intresting was that he was born with curled toes and after that put all the bandaids that within a few days they were straigt. What was not so intresting was that he ate lots of meal worms so he could grow to be a big strong bird and meet his new family
- Jackover 12 yearsI thought if "Little Crane" could of died so young, possibly other Grey African Cranes could have died young by deformation. I also thought that since the Cranes are endangered, the great birds should be saved and kept protected by enviromentalists.
- Tyler and Gordonover 12 yearsI thought that the first part about how the baby chick would die if it's curled toes were not tended to because it would be sad if the chick died so young. I thought the fact about what the cranes ate when they get older was not interesting because the story topic was first about how the chick was being helped, and how it would die if it didn't have it's green bandages.
- Awesomeabout 13 yearsThis is so cute do you think It's weird I like small things?
- Awesomeabout 13 yearsI love little things! Is that weird?
flutterabout 10 yearsUmmm…no
- Awesomeabout 13 yearsI love little animals!
- Awesomeabout 13 yearsThat is the cutesy thing!
