(IN) ERN Bird casualties during kite festival

January 7, 2008

Chinese ‘dor’ turns bird killer

Mohit Khanna

Ludhiana, January 5

This year, kite flying could put the lives of birds at risk as residents are set

to celebrate Lohri by flying kites with Chinese plastic thread.

According to a kite trader, plastic thread worth about Rs 2 crore has been

sold across the city and the sale is expected to rise in the coming days.

The plastic thread is stronger than the conventional cotton thread.

Already 20 cases of pigeon death have been reported from various parts of the

city.

“Chinese dor” is equally dangerous for humans as it uses glass powder. It can

also cause power failure if the thread gets entangled around high-tension power

cables.

Volunteers of the People for Animal are worried at the sale of this thread and

have requested residents not to use it.

Spearheading a campaign against kite flying, which kills 20 per cent bird

population in the city in January every year, the PFA volunteers have appealed

to the people not to fly kites.

Sandeep K. Jain, honorary wildlife warden, said the thread was coated with

glass powder and often birds got entangled in it and lost a wing or legs.

“This traditional merry making is a threat to the birds. Ludhiana is the place

with the highest number of kites flown during January, which results in the

reduction of the bird population by 20 per cent in one month,” he said.

“We have made arrangements to provide immediate relief to injured birds. Even

though we have limited resources, we have managed to set up six centres all over

the city where we shall attend to these birds,” he added.

He said bleeding in birds could be stopped by putting gentle pressure with the

help of cotton dipped in cold water or with fingers on the wound. Dust or

foreign material may be removed, but there should be no wiping of the wound

repeatedly.

A few drops of water could be put in the mouth of the bird, or in case of

severe bleeding, glucose could be added to the water.

Ajay Jain, president of the PFA, said: “Our centres are manned by volunteers

who feel birds look better in the sky than in a cage with their wings cut off.

These volunteers will be given first aid instructions to attend to the injured

birds.”

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