Hit by kite strings, dozens of birds killed, hundreds injured in several parts of Gujarat
Uttarayan is among the biggest festivals in Gujarat. Revellers mark the festival with kite-flying. But kite-flying has been injuring thousands of birds every year, prompting a state government initiative Karuna Abhiyan that kicked off in 2017. This year too, the state government launched the nine-day campaign on January 12.
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A painted stork that suffered a kite string injury is treated at Jivdaya Charitable Trust in Ahmedabad. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)A white-rumped vulture and three painted storks were among dozens of birds killed after hitting kite strings during Uttarayan in several parts of the state on Sunday. Hundreds of birds, including international migratory species like geese, ducks, storks, flamingos kites, eagles, owls, egrets, peacocks, and pigeons were injured during the festival, the nonprofits that partnered with the state government in Karuna Abhiyan campaign to rescue and treat birds, said on Monday.
Jeevdaya Charitable Trust (JCT), Ahmedabad, the nonprofit working for the welfare of birds and animals, said that 540 birds injured after hitting kites were received at its veterinary hospital for treatment. These include international migratory species like bar-headed geese, and greylag geese as well as other protected species like peacocks, painted storks, woolly-necked storks, comb ducks, black kites, spoonbills, Indian black ibis, parakeets, Asian koels, green pigeons, rock pigeons, and even fruit bats.
“We received 10 painted storks which were injured after hitting kite strings and most of the injured storks seemed immature birds which are still learning to fly. We also received one white-rumped vulture but unfortunately, it died due to excessive blood loss due to injury caused by kite strings,” Sherwin Everett, curator of the veterinary hospital of JCT, told The Indian Express on Monday, adding, “One painted stork also succumbed to its injuries afte being rescued.”
Uttarayan celebrated with full fervour in Ahmedabad, on Sunday. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)
In Rajkot, Shree Karuna Foundation Trust (SKFT), the NGO that was coordinating for the Karuna Abhiyan, said that its veterinary hospital received a total of 367 injured birds on Sunday.
In Porbandar, five painted storks, four lesser flamingos, a Heuglin’s gull, and a short-eared owl were among 30 birds injured after hitting kite strings. These were rescued by a nonprofit the Green Wildlife Conservation Society (GWLCS). “Two of the five injured painted storks succumbed to their injuries while one’s wing had to be amputated, rendering the bird flightless permanently,” Chirag Tank, founder of GWLCS, said.
Uttarayan is among the biggest festivals in Gujarat. Revellers mark the festival with kite-flying. But kite-flying has been injuring thousands of birds every year, prompting a state government initiative Karuna Abhiyan that kicked off in 2017. This year too, the state government launched the nine-day campaign on January 12.
“In 2017, we rescued and treated 7,000 birds. This number went up to 13,000 in 2023, suggesting we can rescue and treat a higher number of birds,” Nityananda Srivastava, chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden of Gujarat said, adding this year, the campaign will go on till January 20.
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