International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India

18 birds die, 40 hurt during kite festival

Celebrating kite festival on last January 14 Makar Sankranti-day by youths, has caused death to 18 birds and injuries to 40

‘Manja’ (specific thread, containing glass powder) has caused the bird deaths and injuries to them, according to Anand Bora of the city-based Nature Club. He said on Tuesday that during the Club’s survey it has been found such incidents.

He said that during flying of kites, the thread has got trapped on trees, electric poles, and buildings but kite lovers have not removed it properly and many birds trapped in such thread, causing injuries to their legs, even, cuts of their wings.

During the survey, after Makar Sankranti, by Nature Club’s members many birds were found dead and lying on ground following cutting of their legs, wings or throats due to kites’ thread, Mr. Bora added.

Mr. Bora urged upon people not to use nylone or glass contained thread to fly kites and asked to remove the threads from terraces, trees and other places after ending of kite - flying.