5 Crazy Mumbai Sights We've Seen In 2020 We Wouldn't Have Believed In 2019

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The current health crisis and the subsequent pandemic, though brutal on humans, has been a healing process for the Earth. It’s growing, regaining its lost wealth and overflowing with abundance. No one expected our planet to recover from the excessive pollution and the omnipresent abuse of every kind inflicted upon it, yet here we are. With each passing day the skies are becoming clearer, the air is becoming breathable, rivers are visibly purer, weather is improving and natural wildlife is rejuvenating. Mumbaikars, here’s a coup d’oeil! 

1. Dolphins Spotted!

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Dolphins in Bombay, though not an uncommon sight, due to fishing and other human activities they stayed at bay and we hardly ever got to see the delightful creatures before! With the lockdown causing a standstill for all possible activities, dolphins were spotted enjoying the waters of Marine Drive and Malabar Hill. *Yay*

2. Devastating Monsoon Floods The City

Picture Credits: tangledpoint

 During the pandemic, cities in Assam and Mumbai suffered devastating flooding (the wrath of mother nature is upon us), displacing some cities completely. In Mumbai, people were walking in knee-deep water on the roads during the heavy rainfall, resulting in natural disasters and tremendous distress for people living in slum areas. We hope everybody is safe and has access to available reinforcements as heavy monsoons will likely continue for the next few weeks.

3. First Rare Bird Sighting In 104 Years

Picture Credits: birdquest_tours

A Sykes’ Nightjar was sported at the Bhandup Pumping Station (a birders’ paradise)  by bird-watcher Akshay Shinde. His documentation made it the first unusual sighting of the feathered creature in 104 years in Mumbai! What an exciting encounter, folks! There has been only one other documentation of the little fella, that too, in 1915 from somewhere in the Kalyan area. *Woah* Truly a rare sight to behold! 

4. Thousands of Flamingos Turn Creek Pink!

Picture Credits: twimg

A sea of pink dazzled Mumbaikars living in Navi Mumbai amidst the ongoing lockdown! *Shook* These migratory birds arrive every year but what’s special is, this year there was a surge of 25% in the Flamingo population who came to see how we were handling the current health crisis. This unexpected sight of such a tremendous number of Flamingos flocked together on the creek and made the scene a stunning and memorable visual! 

5. Uncommon Sight: Albino Squirrel

Picture Credits: todd_stetson

According to zoologists, spotting Albino squirrels is a rare occurrence. It's not only unusual but something which is uncommon in Mumbai and residents of a building at Tilak Nagar in Chembur spotted these rare creatures. Albino squirrels have very little production of melanin, the pigment which gives colour to the skin and hair, and hence they have a pale whitish look with either partially black eyes or completely red eyes!  *say whaa* 

Folks, it’s time to appreciate mother nature, rethink how we want to live in the post pandemic world, and take care of our beautiful home planet!