Gujarat’s Forest and Environment secretory S.K.Nanda has appealed the people of Gujarat not to fly kites in the morning and evening times when birds are most active at flying in the sky. He has also requested people not to fly kites using lethal Chinese thread which surely kills, injures the birds and sometime human throat very quickly.

Nanda announced birds rescue program on Uttarayan that would be carried out by his department with one rescue hospital, four mobile vehicles(temporary birds ambulance), ten information centres and four helplines.

An emergency operation and treatment centre would be set up at Van Chetna Kendra located in Ahmedabad’s Vastrapur area. 10 doctors from Anand Veterinary college, Pune, Mumbai and Delhi will serve this centre.

Information centres would be operated in Kalupur, Vasna, Krushnanagar, Shahibag, Naranpura, Vejalpur, Dada Sahebna Pagla, Ashram Road and Rasala Garden areas.

NGO would work in a massive strength

Meanwhile various bird lovers organizations have also teamed up to save birds during the Uttarayan.
A road show ‘Save birds,’ will be organised at Law Garden on Saturday at 3 pm to create awareness about the hundreds of birds who are either maimed or remain flightless after getting injured by deadly ‘manjas’. Also, a public awareness campaign through posters, SMSes and emails requesting people to avoid using ‘manjas’ has been initiated.

On Uttarayan day, more than 400 volunteers, individuals, medical professionals and different Non Government Organisations (NGOs) are going to participate in the bird rescue operation from across the city with at least six vehicles in different areas for bird rescue operation.

It should be noted that every year, more than 1,000 birds fall prey to the glasscoated manja and so far, 106 species have been recorded as either injured seriously or killed. Endangered species like White-rumped vulture too faces the threat every year. “The White-rumped vulture has a very few homes remaining in Shahibaug, Maninagar, Sabarmati and IIM. We earnestly appeal to the kite enthusiasts, to desist from flying kites, especially in the areas which still house a few of these birds.

PETA features Jia Khan for awareness

In another development PETA has come with a brand new creative AD in which Jiah poses in a dress as a wounded bird wrapped in kite string next to the tagline ‘Cut the Glass coated Manja, Not Birds’ Wings’, making a plea to all the Kite-Flyers.

the release of the ad coincides with the festival of Makar Sankranthi, during which kites are flown using glass-coated manja. When manja falls on trees and electric poles, it cuts through the wings of birds who become entangled in it. Thousands of birds are maimed and killed by glass-coated manja every year.

Glass-coated manja is also responsible for numerous human injuries and deaths every year, including passers-by traveling on bicycles, motorcycles or scooters. ‘Glass-coated manja is a public health hazard and causes an excruciating death for birds who get entangled in it’, says Jiah Khan. ‘We’re asking participants in the Makar Sankranthi contests and all kite-flying competitors to immediately stop using glass-coated manja and to conduct their sport in a way that isn’t deadly to humans and wildlife.’

Birds Helpline No:

9327633168, 9377943843, 9327609743, 9327632985, 9879877281, 9925759051, 9426034568, 9974040222, 9974040111