Kite-flyers urged to feel for flying friends

HYDERABAD: The festival of kites has left people, mainly children, enthralled with kite flying competitions being held among adjoining building associations and clubs. However, animal rescuers said that kite flyers’ use of manja — the killer thread banned by NGT in 2017 — was hurting the environment, especially birds. 

Animal rescuers said that most kite flyers use manja or glass-coated thread in competitions and kite-fights, a large portion of which lies entangled on trees which prove fatal for birds. Animal rescue organisations in the city have teamed up for the festival to raise awareness against glass-coated kite thread. 

Soudharm Bhandari of Greater Hyderabad Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said, “We have been doing the rounds to sensitise people and look for birds injured or stuck in thread hanging from a tree. We will do this till the end of the week. We have also given helpline numbers for people to call in case they spot an injured bird.” Veterinary doctors in the organisation have said that most birds take weeks to recover from glass injuries as it affects their ability to fly, he said.

Dr Pavan Kumar, a veterinary doctor, said, “A lot of birds will be saved from injury if people stick to open grounds and fly kites in the afternoon. In day-time and during dusk, more birds are out in the sky which increases the risk. While flying, glass pieces pierce them in flight causing injury.” 

Over 250 birds were rescued last year of which 100 died during treatment. Dattatreya Joshi of People for Animals said, “It is a sad sight to see an injured bird hanging from a tree. We still have birds in our hospital recuperating from last year’s injuries.”

Many have cuts across their bodies or slashed claws as they tried to perch on branches having Manja.”

According to rescuers, about 50 per cent of rescued birds remain handicapped, and it requires a large dose of pain relievers, ointments and even vitamin supplements to nurse the birds back to health.