Gandhinagar: In the view of the upcoming Uttarayan festival, a statewide Karuna Abhiyan is being held from January 10th to January 20th, with careful vigilance to prevent any harm to birds or animals from kite strings.

Throughout this campaign, the forest department will operate control rooms in all talukas from 7 am to 6 pm daily across the entire state. With the spirit of “જીવો, જીવવાદો અને જીવાડો’’ (Live, Let Live, and Bring to Life), the Forest Department has activated a WhatsApp number and a website for the immediate treatment of injured birds during the Uttarayan Parva this year.

To avail of this service, send a message or miss call on WhatsApp to 8320002000, and a link will be received. By clicking on that link, details of district-wise bird treatment centers will be available. Additionally, assistance for the treatment of injured birds can be obtained through the helpline number 1926 of the forest department and the helpline number 1962 of the animal husbandry department.

This year, over 900 bird diagnosis and treatment centers have been set up. Over 700 veterinary doctors and around 7700 dedicated volunteers will be on duty across the state to treat any injured bird during the upcoming Uttarayana.

During the celebration of festivals and folk events like Uttarayan, this Karuna campaign has become a prominent initiative in Gujarat to treat and care for sick animals. A total of 13,008 birds were rescued last year.

The forest department has issued an appeal to safeguard the lives of innocent animals and birds during Uttarayana Parva, urging the following measures:

1. Avoid the sale, storage, or use of Chinese and synthetic cords.
2. Fly kites on the day of Uttarayan itself between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
3. Don’t risk your life to save birds hanging on trees, electric and telephone lines.
4. Do not pour water on an injured bird. Also, if the cord is wrapped around it, do not try to remove it by pulling. If necessary, cut the cord with scissors and remove it.
5. If any injured bird is found, contact the nearest bird rescue center and inform the forest department helpline number.
6. If the bird is bleeding, gently apply pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding and take it to the nearest treatment center calmly and undisturbed.
7. Join the compassion campaign and save the innocent birds.
8. Only trained volunteers should perform bird rescue operations.
9. Do not throw tangles of cords anywhere and dispose of them properly if found hanging anywhere.
10. Do not fly Tukkal on the day of Uttarayana and avoid bursting firecrackers.

DeshGujarat