Naturalist frees exotic bird trapped in fishing net in India

A naturalist performing a wildlife study near a dam in south India discovered a bird trapped in a fishing net and freed it in this heartwarming clip.

Ajay, the student who freed the bird, was working with a professor performing a biodiversity study at Bhadra dam in Karnataka state on December 9, and was watching from a hide when he noticed the trapped animal.

The bird was a hoopoe bird, a species endemic to Africa and Eurasia, known for their colourful crests, and Ajay gave it a few minutes to grow accustomed to him before releasing it. The bird staying in his hands for a few seconds before flying away, as if grateful for being saved.