The Civil Servant's Job is to Raise The Furries!-Chapter 156: Major Health Risks

"Once we pinpoint the source of the toxins in the young vulture, we can treat it effectively!"

Professor Fu adjusted her glasses: "Then we need to identify the pollution source from the environment where the vultures previously lived."

"I’ll go ask the vultures about the areas in the desert they frequented to see if they’ve been exposed to heavy metal or fertilizer pollution."

The vulture group, worried about the condition of their offspring, has collectively flown to the rescue station headquarters, constantly concerned about the young vulture’s situation.

They fear disturbing the staff at the rescue station, so they’ve found a temporary nesting spot nearby, only circling a few times in the sky when they want to check on the young vulture.

These formidable-looking creatures are quite considerate, knowing Xu Ying has a challenging task treating the young vulture. Even when worried, they refrain from calling out to Xu Ying and wait for Little Xu Station Chief to sound the whistle meant for communication.

So when Xu Ying blows the special whistle, it doesn’t take long before the vultures arrive one after another.

[Little Xu Station Chief, thank you for your hard work!]

[How is my child doing?]

One of the vulture big sister’s three eggs has already failed to hatch, leaving her visibly low-spirited, with roughened feathers and a balder head.

"The hatched young vulture is still undergoing treatment, while the other egg is in an incubator for hatching."

The incubator can simulate natural hatching conditions, becoming a crucial method to save chicks when birds abandon eggs or get injured and lack hatching conditions.

Xu Ying said solemnly, "We suspect the young vulture is poisoned."

Poisoned?

The vultures were obviously not expecting this outcome:

[How can someone poison the eggs?]

[The vulture big sister was well-protected, and no strangers approached the nesting site!]

"This toxin is naturally present in your bodies, albeit in small amounts, so it couldn’t be detected during the blood tests."

Xu Ying explained to the vultures why the young vulture appeared so weak just after hatching: "These toxins likely concentrated in the eggs during your ovulation, resulting in the young vulture barely surviving once hatched."

After Xu Ying’s patient explanation, the vultures understood.

Xu Ying pondered the process of vultures being abandoned and subsequently migrating to new areas, considering some might not recall everything clearly, so she asked several key questions: "After being abandoned in the desert, did you ever live in human-centric oases or areas with metal mines, refineries, and oil extraction sites?"

Immediately, the vultures began to earnestly recall whether they had lived in such places mentioned by Xu Ying.

[We previously lived near a human oasis for a while, where there was plenty of food, and we often found meat in the garbage piles.]

Vultures often eat from the garbage, roughly making them scavengers, and one must admit that their lives are quite tough.

[However, the people from that oasis were terrified of our presence and tried to drive us away. Moreover, we found the meat there increasingly unpalatable, so we simply left.]

Xu Ying’s pupils constricted as she further inquired: "Did you notice frequent use of fertilizer in that oasis?"

Xu Ying pulled up pictures of commonly used fertilizer packaging in desert regions on her phone: "Have you seen similar bags or bottles?"

After showing the images to the vulture group, they nodded collectively: [Yes, yes. There are often many such bags in the garbage piles.]

Xu Ying’s heart raced; fertilizer bags often contain residue, and the garbage piles usually have these fertilizer bags.

As vultures frequently forage in the garbage pile, their bodies are likely contaminated by the chemical substances in the fertilizer.

The toxins in the young vulture’s body likely originate from fertilizer. For caution’s sake, it is now necessary to go to the oasis mentioned by the vultures and test other animals to collect samples and confirm treatment direction with a larger sample size.

To identify the specific oasis described by the vultures, Xu Ying consulted the headquarters’ technical personnel, utilizing the headquarters’ GPS maps and descriptions provided by the vultures about their living details in the oasis to pinpoint its location, which turned out to be Crescent Oasis located southwest of the rescue center station.

Crescent Oasis has a long history, named for its crescent-like shape on maps from seven hundred years ago.

Crescent Oasis is divided into four villages: East Village, South Village, West Village, and North Village.

Crescent Oasis is heavily affected by desertification, with its area shrinking due to desert encroachment causing loss of soil fertility, occasionally influenced by sandstorms.

The decline in fertility and impact of sandstorms result in reduced crop yields, forcing villagers to use fertilizer to supplement nutrients and boost yields, further causing soil pollution and exacerbating desertification, creating a vicious cycle.

Although akin to drinking poison to quench thirst, it is the fastest method of effectiveness. The primary income source for villagers is oasis agriculture.

Xu Ying reported the situation to Director Yi.

Animals are suffering from fertilizer residue pollution, but it is unknown whether humans living in this oasis are also affected.

Excessive fertilizer use affects soil, which in turn impacts groundwater, the primary drinking water source in the desert.

Residents living in Crescent Oasis may face significant health risks!

After discussing with staff from relevant departments, Director Yi deemed the situation cannot be ignored.

They decided to send test personnel alongside Xu Ying. Xu Ying will collect animal samples and investigate the situation with small animals.

Test personnel will collect soil samples and water source samples.

"Comrade Xu Ying, you have worked hard during this period, dealing with the young vulture’s matter while assisting with the investigation of fertilizer pollution in the oasis. I will earnestly report your outstanding contribution to the desert management zone to the organization."

During Xu Ying’s absence from the 032 Rescue Station for a few days, the organization dispatched temporary rescuer Ning Zexi to oversee and assist, dealing with exceptionally overweight small animals and supervising their weight loss.

Xu Ying initially worried Ning Zexi might struggle to manage everything, but was pleasantly surprised when they reported back that fox cubs were assisting with oversight, and the senior members of the ear fox group cooperated well with their tribe’s five little favorites.

Xu Ying replied seriously, "Director Yi, you are too kind. Everything I currently have is thanks to the desert management zone."

Director Yi regarded Xu Ying with a gentle, child-like gaze; this young person is showing increasing maturity in the desert management zone.

He handed Xu Ying a list: "The organization is concerned about your well-being and has decided to assign you a temporary assistant."

Xu Ying’s joy surged upon hearing the news; she has grown stronger and is now worthy of having an assistant!