Forest Dept rescues birds during Sankranti festival

Hyderabad: From 13th January onwards, the 24 hours helpline at AranyaBhavan with Toll free No. 18004255364 started receiving information regarding injury to birds which got entangled in glass coated manja used in kite flying during the Sankrathi festival.

Between 13th& 17th of January, 2019, a total of nine bird rescues were made by the Anti-poaching Squad, Hyderabad of Telangana Forest Department from localities like Ashoknagar, Mettuguda, Masab Tank, Kukatpally, Panjagutta, Santoshnagar, Lakdikapool and Airport Colony, Picket. The rescues involved birds like Black Kite, Pigeon & Fruit Bat.

One bird was found dead, others were injured after getting caught in the manja thread. Five of the eight injured birds were handed over to the Veterinary Officers at Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad for treatment and three birds which did not have serious injuries were released back. Some of these birds were found hanging by the thread from tree tops and electrical lines and were rescued by removing the manja thread.

Post Sankranthi, the manja thread is found entangled on tree tops and electrical lines which need to be removed for safety of birds and humans. The citizens of the twin cities are requested to help the Forest Department in removing the manja thread from roof tops of the buildings, tree tops, electrical & telephone wires. They also requested to contact the Forest Department round the clock helpline on 1800 4255 364 and 040-23231440 for immediate response by the Forest staff.

The State Forest Department has launched massive campaign to create awareness among the sellers and buyers of synthetic & nylon glass coated manja not to use this manja for kite flying as they are injurious to human beings, animals, birds and environment. Posters were printed in English, Telugu & Urdu showing the harmful effects of use of this manja. These posters were prominently displayed in the shops selling kites and manja during the Sankranthi festival. The Forest Department also conducted search operations at various outlets and seized more than 350 Kgs of synthetic/nylon manja from 72 shops in and around the city. Searches were also conducted on shops selling kites and manja in districts and synthetic/nylon manja were seized.

The Forest Department coordinated the campaign to implement National Green Tribunal orders on imposing total ban on use of nylon/synthetic manja in kite flying with Police Department, Tourism Department, Pollution Control Board, NGOs and Volunteers working in the field of Wildlife Conservation.