Mumbai, Nov. 5 -- As fireworks illuminate the night sky during Diwali festival, an often-overlooked consequence of the celebrations is the disturbance they can cause to urban wildlife, particularly birds.
From birds forced out of their nighttime roosts and bats disturbed in their shelters to free-ranging animals exposed to sudden explosive sounds, the effects of fireworks extend well beyond human neighbourhoods. The combination of intense noise, flashes of light, airborne pollutants and chemical residues can expose animals to multiple stressors in the very habitats they depend on for survival.
Scientific research is increasingly documenting these effects. Different studies around the world have established the negative impact of firecrack...