The Hindu : New Delhi News : Concern over kite injuries to birds

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 19, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Concern over kite injuries to birds

Every August the Capital sacrifices several of its birds to the thrill of kite-flying. Concerned at the heavy crossfire unleashed across the city's skyline on and around Independence Day, environmentalists warn that kite injuries are becoming a serious hazard for birds.

On this past August 15 alone, the Walled City of Delhi registered 31 bird injuries due to kite-hits and doctors attending on the birds believe that half a dozen would be handicapped for life while an equal number would die.

Kite injuries to birds are mainly caused by glass-coated threads that cut and entangle to cause fractures, wing cuts and nerve injuries. Birds brought to the good old Jain Charity Birds Hospital opposite Red Fort in August have deep cuts and injuries and even glass pieces embedded in their bodies.

"With more kites competing for space with birds, the number of hits has risen over the years. What makes matter worse is that people continue to use dangerous strings, totally disregarding the harm they cause to the birds. The solution is to shift to the simple thread without any glass pieces,'' says Vijay Kumar, a doctor at the hospital.

Birds like pigeons, kites and mynas are high on the casualty list.

"The kite-flying season has us on high alert as the patient load in the out-patient-department increases multi-fold. The number of birds treated for injury and fracture at the hospital last year was 4,665 and we got the maximum number of birds with kite injuries in August. The birds picked up a day or two later are usually in very bad shape with infections on their injuries,'' adds Dr. Kumar.

— Bindu Shajan Perappadan

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