‘Karuna Abhiyan’ bird rescue drive saves 1,841 birds in Surat

Surat: As part of the state-wide bird and animal welfare initiative ‘Karuna Abhiyan–2026', the forest department in Surat district carried out a five-day bird rescue and treatment drive from Jan 10 to 14. Various NGOs and their volunteers worked around the clock to rescue injured birds, largely affected by Uttarayan festivities.During the drive, a total of 1,841 birds from 17 species were rescued, including pigeons, black kites, mynas, crows, parrots, egrets, black ibises, owls, bats, water birds, lapwings, cuckoos, peacocks, cockatiels, sparrows and other common regional species.Officials said 211 birds were found dead, with pigeons accounting for 203 of the fatalities, highlighting their vulnerability during kite-flying season. Among the injured were 77 crows, 16 parrots, and 12 cuckoos."The number of emergency calls, bird injuries, and fatalities increased this year. There is a need to raise awareness about safe kite-flying practices," said Darshan Desai, volunteer with Prayas Team Environment. NGOs also expressed concern over the dangers of synthetic and glass-coated kite strings, which have been linked to both bird and human casualties.The forest department said the campaign, implemented across Gujarat, provides emergency rescue, medical treatment, and rehabilitation for injured birds. The initiative in Surat will continue until Jan 20, ensuring ongoing support for wildlife affected during the festival. Authorities urged citizens to avoid hazardous kite strings and immediately report injured birds to rescue helplines.