Stench of death or the scent of danger?

The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), also known as the Buzzard or Carrion Crow, is a bird found in Canada, which helps keep the ecological balance on the earth by feeding on the decaying flesh of dead animals (Carrion).

It got the name “Turkey” due to its reddish, bald head, similar to that of common turkeys. There are six subspecies of the Turkey Vulture all over the world, with three of them in North America. Although they eat decaying flesh, they seem to prefer fresh meat.

When carrion is scarce, they have also been known to eat vegetable matter. They have a highly developed sense of smell, which they use to sense the odours released by decaying flesh. They are also immune to the poisonous bacteria that thrive on decaying meat.

The natural gas/ methane that runs through pipelines in the US has a very small quantity of ‘Ethyl Mercaptan’ added to it, giving it a ‘rotten’ smell, so that a leak can be easily detected. Ethyl Mercaptan is the same compound released when flesh decays as well, hence the similarity in the smell.

So, if one sees turkey vultures circling overhead and cannot see any animal corpses nearby, the rotten flesh they’re looking for instead is that of a leak from a broken gas pipeline. Leaks have been detected this way in the US.

“There’s no one else here, Bob”, said the Chief Engineer. “You’ll have to do it yourself.” “But I’m sick”, pleaded Bob. “I have the flu, with a bad cold, and I can’t smell even a skunk! Then how can I detect a gas leak?”

“Well, atleast we know it’s the stretch between Fullerton point and the Rocky ledge”, said the Chief very coolly. “And I’ll send the team as soon as they arrive from the other leak point.”

Bob was a pipeline operator, and had worked at the station for more than a decade. Bob’s job was to inspect, repair and control the operation of the pipelines that carried natural gas and fuel to all the homes and fuel stations in the area.

Natural gas and fuel, are of course, highly inflammable, and a leak, combined with a careless cigarette stub would be enough to cause a blast. Bob and his team of operators were a sincere lot, who knew they were accountable for the lives of people and did their best to prevent a tragedy.

Bob knew about the huge responsibility that came with the job, and though he was stationed at a rather remote area in Canada, he was quite happy as he received a decent pay, and he could stay with his family.

Everything had gone on well in Bob’s life till the new Chief Engineer took charge. For some unfathomable reason, the Chief took a dislike to Bob from the very first day, and found fault with his work even when there was none.

Bob tried his best to please his new boss, but nothing he did seemed to convince the Chief of his efficacy. What infuriated the Chief even more was that, despite all his reprimands, Bob went about with a cheerful, smiling, face!

Then the Chief found new ways to make Bob miserable. If they had an emergency situation, Bob was the first one to be sent there, every time. If the operation was a success, everyone received praise except Bob.

If any problems cropped up, it was Bob’s fault; it was all because Bob wasn’t doing his job well. When Bob applied for leave, he was refused; and he was often called for work on weekends out of turn.

And when Bob protested, the Chief subtly hinted that Bob would lose his job if he didn’t do as he was told. So, that morning, when they had received information of a pipeline leak due to careless digging at a site far north, the Chief had, as usual, nominated Bob to go there first.

But seeing how sick Bob was, the members of Bob’s team persuaded the Chief to let him stay back. The Chief finally agreed, but grudgingly.

Now the Chief had got another chance. The moment the Leak Detection System detected a slight decrease in pressure in one of the pipelines, he ordered Bob to go and investigate.

When a leak happened, there was a characteristic smell – similar to the stench from dead animals— which helped people know there was a leak. This was because a compound called Ethyl mercaptan was added to the otherwise odourless gas.

Bob didn’t know how he would manage to find it though; he was running a temperature, and his sense of smell was severely impaired due to his bad cold. He tried protesting again.

“Boss, can’t I wait till just a few of them return? I feel really sick, and—” “Bob, I hope you remember our last discussion. If you want your job, you must go. And I want you to find the leak in an hour’s time”, said the Chief coldly. “So go now!”

Not very far away, a Turkey Vulture was flying through the skies, searching for carrion. It had been quite a few days since he had found some road kill. It looked like no animal was dying; and without dead meat to eat, the Turkey Vulture was almost starving.

But worse, his little babies had been hungry too, for the past many days. Neither he, nor his mate had been able to find any food. Even garbage dumps were empty; he could find only tin cans, metal junk and paper. He kept flying, hoping he would find some bits or pieces to take home.

He flew for a long time, but with no luck. Tired out, he finally landed on the branch of a dead tree near Fullerton point. And that was when a faint smell of carrion hit his nostrils— the stench of decaying flesh was unmistakeable. But where was it coming from? Hopeful at last, the Turkey Vulture took flight again, letting his sense of smell lead the way.

Bob, meanwhile, had set out with his lunch box tucked under his arm. He didn’t have a vehicle, because the others had taken the office jeep. He had to walk the entire way. His body ached, and he felt light-headed. But he had no choice.

He trudged on, trying to trace the path of the pipeline that ran beneath the ground. He kept walking, hoping that he could at least ask someone on the way if they suspected a gas leak somewhere. But he saw no one on the way, and by the time he reached Fullerton Point, he was completely exhausted.

Bob looked at his watch. It was almost an hour since he had started from the station. It was rough terrain, and Bob walked ahead with difficulty. Rocky ledge was almost three kilometres away, and he didn’t know how he would cover the distance.

He sighed. He knew it was useless to argue anymore, and that the Chief had just been waiting for an excuse to throw him out. It looked like he would be blamed once again, for being inefficient, and this time, he would be fired. He silently prayed that even if he lost his job, no harm should come to anyone because of his delay in finding the leak.

The Turkey Vulture, on the other hand, was now hopeful and ecstatic, hot on the scent of his food. The stench was getting stronger and stronger, and it looked like he was in for a feast. The carcass seemed to be lying behind the pile of rocks near the cliff. With the little strength he had left in his wings, he flew eagerly onwards.

Bob was halfway between Fullerton point and Rocky ledge when he fell down first. His legs seemed unsteady, and he could walk no further. The path strewn with rocks and gravel further handicapped him.

He fervently hoped that the other operators would reach there soon. He sat down, and opened his lunchbox, hoping he could regain a little strength.

Just as he was about to put the sandwich in his mouth, he saw the Turkey Vulture swooping down towards a pile of rocks near a cliff. As far as Bob knew, the Turkey Vultures fed mostly on decaying meat, and did not prefer the carcasses of carnivorous animals like dogs and cats. Which animal then, could have strayed into that rough terrain, wondered Bob.

And that was when it him. “That must be where the leak is!” he realized, remembering that the gas had a stench similar to decaying flesh. He rushed towards the spot, forgetting all his discomfort, excited at having found the leak. He could start work now!

The Turkey Vulture was hovering over the area, trying in vain to find the carcass, but he could spot nothing. The arrival of a human upset him, but did not deter him. He flew this way and that, trying to spot his food. But instead, here were a whole lot of humans coming that way! The Turkey Vulture hissed in frustration.

“Bob!!!!!!!” came calls and shouts. “We’re here! Don’t worry, we’re here to help you!” Bob’s team of pipeline operators had arrived to assist him! “I’ve found the leak!” cried out Bob. “It’s here! Help me move these stones!”

The men set to work, unmindful of the Turkey Vulture that was crying out in anguish, at being cheated of his food. It was a trick! Another dirty trick by the humans, thought the poor Vulture.

The Turkey Vulture was just about to fly away when he noticed the first human he had seen, shove something in his direction. It looked like food alright! He swooped down and lifted it up in its beak, and flew away to its nest, thankful that his little ones wouldn’t have to go hungry.

Bob smiled as he closed his empty lunch box. He didn’t mind losing his lunch to the poor bird which had helped him keep his job.