Catia Lattouf’s apartment in Mexico City is home to several sick hummingbirds. According to an ancient Mayan legend, anyone who cages a hummingbird is cursed by the gods. Therefore, Lattouf allows these tiny creatures to flit around freely within her apartment, their wings a blur as they beat the air about 50 times a second.
Twelve years ago, Lattouf took in an injured hummingbird while recovering from colon cancer and the loss of her husband. The bird, Gucci, lost an eye in a scuffle with a bigger feathered bully. Gucci would fly to Lattouf’s head and shoulder or sit in with her when she did not feel like playing. This interaction proved to be therapeutic for Lattouf and she saved the hummingbird’s life.
Lattouf’s apartment has since become a makeshift clinic for sick, injured, or infant hummingbirds. She is an expert in the field, and her home is a reference source for bird lovers throughout Latin America. The 73-year-old often cares for dozens of hummingbirds that visit her apartment. Additionally, Lattouf plans on setting up a foundation that will train the next generation of hummingbird whisperers. She believes that Gucci enabled her to start a new life filled with purpose.
According to Lattouf, “Gucci wrote a new life for me. I made a promise to protect the planet and humanity. I know I’m going to live another 20 years, but one day this legacy must continue without me.” Her main aim is to ensure that the legacy she set out to accomplish will continue long after she is gone.
Emmanuel Vergara, the president of Aves y Conservación, states that Lattouf’s initiative is “a lesson for all life. It’s something to follow, that the proper space and food are ensured” for animals displaced by urban development. Vergara continues to say that hummingbirds have become a “perfect match” within the urban environment.
Despite the ancient myth, Lattouf’s scheme is certainly a sanctuary for hummingbirds in need of care. Her initiative is a reminder of the shared responsibility we have as human beings to protect the planet and what it contains. Lattouf gives hope to future generations that they can also make a significant positive impact on the environment, wildlife, and the world.
Image credit: Fernando Llano
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