GHSPCA Takes Action to Save Birds from Chinese Manja
The festive season in Hyderabad, particularly during Sankranti, brings not only joy and celebration but also a significant challenge for wildlife, as the use of Chinese manja—the dangerous glass-coated kite strings—results in a surge of bird injuries. These threads, often used for kite flying, are known to cause severe harm to birds, cutting their wings and leading to fatal injuries. In response to this, the Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GHSPCA), a city-based voluntary organisation, has initiated a large-scale bird rescue operation across Hyderabad to mitigate the damage and save as many birds as possible.
The GHSPCA’s rescue efforts have been strategically spread across 16 locations in the city, ensuring that volunteers are easily accessible to respond swiftly. The locations include high-traffic areas such as Ameerpet, Bowenpally, Charminar, and Secunderabad, where the GHSPCA’s teams will be stationed to receive calls and rescue birds that have become entangled or injured due to the harmful manja. The organisation has called upon the citizens of Hyderabad to report injured birds and to assist in their timely rescue to reduce the number of casualties.
In collaboration with the Forest Department, GHSPCA volunteers have been working tirelessly over the past few days to rescue injured birds. The magnitude of the problem is striking, as they have successfully rescued 1,775 birds of various species, many of which are endangered or protected. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the rescue teams, 400 of these birds did not survive, succumbing to their injuries during the rescue or rehabilitation process. This sobering statistic highlights the cruel and hazardous nature of Chinese manja, not just for birds but for the larger ecological balance, as such incidents disrupt biodiversity and put pressure on wildlife conservation efforts.
From an environmental and sustainability perspective, the widespread use of Chinese manja represents a significant challenge to urban wildlife preservation. While the cultural importance of kite flying is undeniable, there is an urgent need to reconsider the environmental impact of such practices. The continuing use of harmful materials in festivals like Sankranti not only endangers birds but also exacerbates the problem of waste management in the city. As more and more cities across India witness similar incidents, it is imperative to adopt eco-friendly alternatives to Chinese manja, such as cotton-coated or biodegradable kite strings, which do not pose such severe risks to birds and other wildlife.
The GHSPCA’s initiative is a reminder that while festive traditions hold cultural significance, it is equally important to ensure that our celebrations do not come at the cost of innocent lives or environmental well-being. In the long term, creating awareness and implementing stricter regulations on the use of dangerous materials like Chinese manja can help strike a balance between tradition and ecological responsibility. Hyderabad’s example underscores the need for a collaborative approach between citizens, animal welfare organisations, and the government to protect wildlife and foster sustainable practices in all festive activities.
In conclusion, the GHSPCA’s efforts to rescue and rehabilitate birds injured by Chinese manja are commendable, but they also highlight the critical need for a change in the way we celebrate our festivals. Only through responsible actions and sustainable alternatives can we ensure that our traditions do not come at the expense of our planet and its creatures.
