The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Kite-flying hits pigeons

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Sunday, Jan 13, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Kite-flying hits pigeons

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: Be it ‘kodi pandem’ in coastal Andhra or ‘jallikattu’ in Tamilnadu, Sankranthi is already infamous for its animal and bird games. Latest in the list is the seemingly innocuous ‘patang’. Many a pigeon in the city are reported to have been either injured or killed after being caught by the ‘manja’-- the razor sharp thread by which kites are flown.

“Thousands of birds die due to kite-flying every year. Last year, we rescued about 468 birds, which constituted hardly 10 per cent of the total injured,” Mahesh Agarwal from Sahyog Organisation says.

This year, he forebodes higher casualties due to the ‘Chinese dor’ being sold in the market.

Imported from China, the thread is made of plastic and could be fatal to humans too owing to the glass powder it has, he says.

Sahyog has deployed about forty volunteers on the mission of rescuing birds and administering first aid. Bleeding birds will be given first aid and kept under folds of cloth until they recover and attempt to fly again.

About 120 birds had been rescued while eighteen died by Saturday evening. Of them, 93 cases, all of pigeons, were reported only on Saturday. The birds also included mynahs, blue jays, sparrows, and doves.

It is fright that kills the birds more than the injury.

“They go berserk upon sighting a kite and get hurt by manja. Once injured, they lose flight and touch the ground, exposing themselves to all kinds of predators,” explains Mahesh. He appeals to the people to use normal thread devoid of glass powder. Bird lovers may call 9394005600 to inform about any injured bird.

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