RIO DE JANEIRO: On Sunday, a heron in Rio de Janeiro soared over a river after veterinarians removed a plastic cup that was fastened to its neck and obstructing its throat, saving it from imminent death.
In a place known for its wooded mountains that overlook a busy beach city, the effort to save the bird sparked a protest in Brazil about the effects of plastic pollution on wildlife.
In Rio’s Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, the lanky heron paused as its cage opened, then jumped out and soared into the air, its white-gray wings taking it above the river.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a heron perches in greenery with a plastic cup lodged in its neck.
