This summer will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the workers at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre on Vancouver Island, Canada, as they will be hosting a very rare visitor: a young bird known as the “holy white raven.” A nice citizen noticed the small animal on the ground in the Oceanside neighborhood in May and brought it to the facility.
It’s a shame the poor raven was in such awful health at the time. It was famished, damaged, and unable to fly, as one might expect.
This bird isn’t a real albino, according to one of its main carers, animal care technician Derek Downes. Because it lacks melanin, it is classified as a leucistic raven.
However, the lack of melanin has a negative impact on the health of leucistic birds, particularly their immune systems. In the wild, they usually don’t live long.
“They’re an exceedingly unusual mutation that has been well-documented in this region of the globe, particularly in the (Parksville Qualicum Beach) area, which is why they’ve been nicknamed the sacred white raven,” Downes said. “They usually don’t fare well.” They have weakened immune systems, so we’re putting in a lot of effort on this one. We’ve learnt what we can do in the past to aid it, and we’re hoping to have some success with this one.”
Downes claims that his team is presently force-feeding the bird since it will not eat on its own. They treat it with antibiotics and other nutrients and vitamins in the hopes of bolstering its immune system and allowing the ill bird to recover.
It’s also Downes’ first time caring for a raven, and he describes the experience as “a very amazing thing.” Thankfully, the fortunate bird is doing well under Downes’ and his teammates’ care.
“The crow is making good development,” he remarked. “It has completed its second treatment of antibiotics and has reacted admirably. At this point, all of the infections have gone away.”
Although healing is a gradual process, they are hopeful that the white raven will soon be well enough to return to its natural home.
