Zoological Society of London collaborates with Animal Help Foundation to help vultures

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*http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200701201560.htm*

*Endangered vultures fall victim to kite festivities*

 

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Ahmedabad, Jan. 20 (PTI): When kites jostled for space in the skies, little

did one imagine that it will leave a trail of dead and injured birds

including the endangered species of vultures.

 

An animal welfare organisation in the city has received over 700 birds

injured by kite-strings during Uttarayan which is celebrated as the festival

of kites in Gujarat.

 

The enormity of the problem can be gauged from the fact that veterinary

experts from Zoological Society of London are camping at the Animal Help

Foundation on the outskirts of the city to treat the injured vultures.

 

" Zoological Society of London has been working along with animal welfare

organisations in India for the protection of vultures whose number has seen

an alarming decline in the last six to seven years, " said Dr Andrew Routh,

chief Veterinary Officer of UK's renowned Regent's Park London (London Zoo).

 

 

" We came here as we knew that a large number of birds, including a number of

vultures, get seriously injured during the kite flying season in Gujarat, "

Andrew said.

 

Andrew is accompanied by his wife Dr Sorn Routh and an expert bird-handler

from London Zoo, Natalie Reed. Other experts from BNHS and a bird-handler

from Sri Lanka are also assisting the foundation in treating the large

number injured birds.

 

" This year, the first vulture casualty was reported on December 27, 2006 and

till date we received a total of 10 injured vultures, " said Soham Mukherjee

a member of the foundation.

 

" Seven of these vultures are the endangered white rumped vultures and the

rest are migratory Egyptian vultures, " Mukherjee said, adding four of the

white-rumped vultures succumbed to their injuries.

 

Last year, 24 vultures were brought to the foundation of which 18 were

injured due to kite strings.

 

This year more than 700 birds have been brought to the foundation which

include other migratory birds like Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit,

Eurasian Thicknee and others.

 

" Vulture is already facing the threat of extinction from Diclofenac (a drug

injected into cattle) because they prey on their carcasses. Now kite strings

are adding to vulture deaths every year, " Andrew said.

 

However, Mukherjee believes that increasing usage of Chinese kite-strings

are contributing to the number of bird casualties.

 

" The strings are made of nylon threads which are difficult to break and

cause the maximum damage to the birds than the cotton strings which were

used earlier, " he said.

 

The veterinary expert from London felt certain areas of Ahmedabad where

vulture nests are found could be made kite-free zones during Uttarayan

festival.