An NGO rescued a barn owl that was caught in deadly kite manjha for several hours in West Delhi. The bird had sustained severe injuries on its wing and is currently undergoing treatment.
The owl with manjha (glass-coated string) entwined around its wings was spotted on a tree in Nangloi on Tuesday afternoon. On finding the bird in the perilous situation, concerned passersby contacted Wildlife SOS, a wildlife conservation non-profit organisation and a 24-hour rescue helpline working all over the country.
Two rescuers from the NGO along with a team of fire safety officers conducted the rescue operation. The team, along with a fire truck operator used the aerial ladder to reach the tree and safely extricate the distressed owl.
"Despite a ban by the Delhi government, the deadly Chinese manjha continues to be used to fly kites, endangering both animal and human lives. The string is coated with powdered glass which makes it sharp and coarse, leading to dangerous consequences. We request the residents of Delhi to be compassionate and refrain from using such fatal manjhas," said Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder, CEO, Wildlife SOS.
The owl sustained severe wing injuries and had to be rushed to the rescue facility for treatment. The glass–coated 'manjha' (string) used for flying kites cut through soft flesh of birds and can cause severe damage to their wings and limbs. Delhi's varied avian population remains particularly threatened as they are easily caught in the kite string while in flight or when resting on trees.
"As birds tend to be more active during early morning or at dusk, people must refrain from flying kites during these times and use designated open spaces. Ditching the gum- and glass-coated nylon manjha for cotton thread or natural fibre could help save numerous lives," said Wasim Akram, Manager Special Projects, Wildlife SOS.
Use Cotton Thread
“As birds tend to be more active during early morning or at dusk, people must refrain from flying kites during these times and use designated open spaces. Ditching the gum- and glass-coated nylon manjha for cotton thread or natural fibre could help save numerous lives,” said Wasim Akram, Manager Special Projects, Wildlife SOS
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