MUMBAI: Animal activists in Mumbai and also animal-friendly actors and artists are urging people not to fly kites for the upcoming
Makar Sankranti festival from January 14 to 16 in order to safeguard birds.
The kite-flying celebrations during Makar Sankranti kill or harm hundreds of birds every year. Animal rights groups have therefore decided to set up several bird rescue camps in the city during this period.
"We are giving out the addresses and phone numbers of various bird rescue camps to be set up so that citizens can immediately rush the injured birds to the closest camp during Makar Sankranti. We are also urging citizens to avoid flying kites, especially the sharp glass-coated manja thread as it can fatally cut through the birds that are flying in the sky," said the honorary district animal welfare officer, Mitesh Jain.
He added that the Chinese manja thread must also be avoided as these can often prove to be fatal for the feathered species.
Actresses
Sheen Das
, Gulki Joshi, Parul Chaudhary, Chitrapama Banerjee, among others have urged people to "say no to kites" and join hands with "
Karuna Trust
Virar" in saving the lives of maximum birds. Actors
Manoj Malhotra,
Rohan Rai
, Kuldip Malik and Jaya Bhattacharya have also sent out similar messages on social networks in order to help save the birds.
NGOs like Karuna Trust, Bird Helpline, Bombay SPCA and many more will also be actively looking out for treating birds injured during the festival.
The manja thread mesh, which often is left behind on tree branches and building ledges, can also fatally trap birds, and hence, kite flying shouldn't be done, said Jain.
The following are some of the contact details of the bird rescue camps.
List of Mumbai bird rescue medical camps (January 14-15) - VIRAR Sheetal Nagar
(W)
Karuna Trust Virar (365 days) - 9819477042 / 9273910004 (365 days)
- NALASOPALA (E) Bird Rescue Camp Agarwal (14-15 Jan.) 7387961976
- NAIGAON AARF -
7715980213 / 8788588740 / 8097389291
- BHAYANDER (W) Ahinsa Charitable Trust (365 days) - 9821391283 / 9821429504 / 9820372727 (14-15 Jan.)
- BHAYANDER (E) Jivdaya Steel Association (365 days) - 9321503820 / 9321503825
- MIRA ROAD Vinay Nagar(15-17 Jan.) - 7718060066 / 8898116544
Jain Mandir Shanti Nagar Sector no. 3
Shree Samkit Yuvak Mandal (14-15 Jan.) - 9987950104 / +919867950104
- DAHISAR & BORIVALI Shree Samkit Yuvak Mandal (14-17 Jan.) - 9324747555 / 8080000804
- KANDIVALI Maa Foundation (365 days) - 8655370005
- MALAD Jivdaya Abhiyan (365 days) - 8828261212 (14-17 Jan.)
- GOREGAON Karuna Parivar Trust (365 days)- 9833625427
Jawahar Nagar (w)
Aasha & Samkit Group - 9987929223 / 9076388362 / 9892465888 (14-15 Jan.)
- VILE PARLE TO JOGESHWARI Shree Jain Yuth Group & Medical Aid Birds (MAA) - 9967007662 / 9820997699 / 9820153163
- GRANT ROAD Khetwadi
Bird Helpline (365 days) - 8655370005
- CHARNI ROAD Bhuleshwar
Shree Jain Alert Group (16 Jan.) - 9821823851
Nanubhai Desai Road V.P. Road
Shree Shanti kushal Mandal (14-15 Jan.)
- 9699560095 / 9833133917 / 9653135551 / 9004403912 / 9892052027
Podaar baug C.P. Tank (14-15 Jan.) - 9987613250 / 6350 221 468 / 8779499562
- MARINE LINES Chira Bazar(Jss Road)
Shree Jain Alert Group (15-17 Jan.)
7977353745
- MASJID BUNDER (E) Dana Bazar
HELP ANIMALS AND BIRDS ASSOCIATION (365 Days) - 9322333338 / +919223333338
- GHATKOPAR Vardhamaan Sanskar Dham / Mangal Vardhini - 02225069191 / 02225069292 / 8655252573