Though awareness among people has brought down the number of bird injuries in the recent years, NGOs working for the welfare of birds are not taking any chances this Uttarayan.
Though awareness among people has brought down the number of bird injuries in the recent years, NGOs working for the welfare of birds are not taking any chances this Uttarayan. For example, Shree Cultural Foundation has initiated ‘Save Injured Birds,’ an awareness drive to cover the whole of Ahmedabad, as reports of injuries have already started pouring in.
As part of the drive, a vehicle with volunteers and one veterinary doctor, equipped with all necessary first-aid essentials, will move around the city on Saturday and Sunday. The Gujarat Ecology Commission and the Environment and Forest Department are providing help to the initiative.
According to Shailesh Joshi, assistant conservator of forest, the maximum number of injuries to birds happens during this period. Of the all birds rescued, 90% are pigeons and the remaining 10% are peacocks, vultures, crows and owls. The organisation has receives injured migratory water birds.
This year, the number of injuries might reach 4,000. “It is because we are covering more area,” said Joshi.
While last year three zones were covered, this year six zones in Ahmedabad city and 14 villages outside the city are being covered. The six zones are Sarkhej, Vastrapur, Paldi, Gomtipur, Naroda and Maninagar.
The injured birds are collected by volunteers and taken to the operation theatres (OT). In the case of big birds, all birds are taken to the major OTs, while the endangered species are taken over by the forest department, and after operations, they are transferred to Bodakdev centre.
The initiative will also have a tie-up with the state transport department to transfer the injured birds from the place of injury to the OT or place where treatment is available.
What proves very deadly for the winged friends is the plastic China string as it causes serious injuries to the birds. However, for the last two years, the product has been banned.
The organisation has also advised people not to fly kites between 6am and 9am and between 5pm and 8pm as these are the times when the birds are most active.
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