Hyderabad's skies filled with vibrant colors during Bhogi and Sankranti celebrations, but beneath the festive joy lay a troubling reality of pain and preventable harm. The season of kite-flying and bonfires left behind a significant trail of injured birds, human casualties, and environmental damage, revealing the hidden costs of traditional festivities.
Bird Rescue Efforts Highlight Alarming Toll
Animal welfare organizations reported distressing numbers from the past few weeks. More than two hundred birds suffered injuries from dangerous manja threads, with nearly forty percent dying during treatment attempts. The scale of suffering has become an annual concern that rescue groups desperately want to change.
Veterinarian Describes Preventable Tragedy
Dr. Piyush Patel, a veterinarian working with Humane World for Animals India, shared his firsthand observations from the festival period. He explained how birds become entangled in sharp kite strings, often sustaining severe wing and leg injuries that leave them bleeding and flightless. Many of these beautiful creatures ultimately lose their lives to what should be a joyful celebration.
"Birds form an essential part of our natural ecosystem," Dr. Patel emphasized. "Every Sankranti season, I witness the same heartbreaking scenes of suffering that could easily be prevented. A festival rooted in warmth and togetherness should never become a source of fear or harm for our wildlife."
Rare Species Face Additional Threat
Sindhura Pothineni, who has fostered more than seven hundred birds during recent Sankranti seasons, expressed particular concern for vulnerable species. She noted that even rare and near-threatened birds like the culturally significant Indian roller are falling victim to kite strings.
"These birds are already vanishing from our environment," Pothineni stated. "Instead of working to preserve them, we're inadvertently making their survival more difficult through our festival practices."
Rescue Statistics Paint Grim Picture
With celebrations continuing through the weekend, rescue organizations fear the toll will keep rising. Soudharm Bhandari of the Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provided sobering statistics from previous years that highlight the ongoing problem.
Last year saw over one hundred fifty birds rescued, with half dying during treatment. This year's preliminary numbers show twenty-four birds rescued so far, with six fatalities, thirteen in recovery, and five successfully released back into their natural habitats.
Human Injuries Add to Concerns
The danger extends beyond wildlife to people enjoying the festivities. At least ten individuals suffered injuries in recent weeks, including a four-year-old child and a police officer. Most injuries resulted from contact with sharp kite strings that can cut deeply into skin.
Environmental Damage Persists Long After Festivities
Environmental experts point to longer-lasting consequences from festival materials. Plastic kites and synthetic manja threads remain tangled in trees, power lines, and water bodies long after celebrations conclude. Several of Hyderabad's lakes, many currently undergoing restoration efforts, became dumping grounds during the festival period.
A particularly troubling incident occurred on Tuesday when rescuers found a lesser whistling duck trapped in Chinese manja at Yapral lake in the ECIL area. In some cases, authorities themselves organized kite-flying events on city lakes, adding strain to already fragile ecosystems.
Enforcement Efforts Face Challenges
Forest department officials acknowledged ongoing enforcement efforts while recognizing the scale of the challenge. They reported receiving over one hundred cases involving people hoarding banned Chinese manja, with police assistance helping track down violators.
"We acknowledge that dangerous kite strings remain in circulation," a forest department official explained. "Our teams continue to receive new reports daily, and we're working to control the situation as effectively as possible within our resources."
The official emphasized that while progress is being made, complete elimination of hazardous materials requires continued public cooperation and awareness about the consequences of traditional festival practices.
