On a mission against animal deaths Fire brigade circulates waters in Rheinauen lake

Bonn · The fire brigade circulated the water of the Rheinauen lake at the weekend, to increase oxygen levels in the waters, in a fight against the animals dying.

With additional pumps the Bonn city council is on a mission to stop the animals from dying at the Rheinauenlake. Fire brigade staff brought mobile pumps on Saturday to circulate the waters of the lake in order to increase oxygen levels and prevent the development of the toxic substance botulin, as the city council reported on Sunday. 20 fire officers from Lengsdorf, Oberkassel and Beuel were working into the late evening.

Around lunchtime the team from Lengsdorf installed the first pumps near the bird island, where most of the dead animals were found. Due to a technical problem, they called for teams from Beuel and Oberkassel. On pump unit was withdrawn from the Disaster Control Day event at the Münsterplatz.

Over 400 dead animals

At the same time, six employees of the department for green city areas picked dead fish and water birds from the Rheinaue. The staff members had volunteered to do so. They were joined by the Animal Emergency Service Düsseldorf and the Animal Rescue Team Unterland from Heilbronn to save injured animals. 20 wild birds were brought to rescue centres.

At the weekend, 12 more dead fish and 21 dead water birds were found. Since Wednesday, the number of animals which perished has risen to almost 400 in the Rheinaue.

„The department for green city areas had contacted the Technical Aid Association (THW) after a suggestion by the fire brigade to do so, to find out if they can help during the week with additional pumps. Rising temperatures and high levels of solar radiation will continue to minimise the oxygen levels in the water“, the city council said in a report on the matter.

During their work over the weekend, the rescue task forces had to stop pedestrians and passers-by from feeding the animals. Bread and other foods increase the chemical reactions when thrown in the water.

(Original text: Sabrina Bauer / Translation: Mareike Graepel)

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