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Gujarat Sees 40% Drop in Injured Birds After Uttarayan Kite Festival

The Wildlife Care Centre in Ahmedabad reported a 40% decline in the number of birds injured during the recent Uttarayan kite festival. Veterinary doctor Bharat Bimani credited increased public awareness for the positive trend. The centre treated 227 birds, while a state-wide rescue effort saved over 90% of the 5,439 birds collected. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated a kite festival in Gandhinagar, celebrating the occasion with citizens.

Key Points: 40% Fewer Birds Injured in Gujarat's Uttarayan Festival

  • 40% drop in injured birds
  • 227 treated at Ahmedabad centre
  • 96 collection centres operational
  • State-wide rescue campaign success
2 min read

Gujarat: Wildlife Care Centre sees 40 per cent drop in injured birds after Uttarayan festival

Wildlife Care Centre reports significant decline in injured birds treated after kite festival, attributing success to increased public awareness and rescue efforts.

"There has been a significant decline in the number of injured birds as compared to the previous year. Awareness could be the reason for this. - Bharat Bimani"

Ahmedabad, January 17

Bharat Bimani, a veterinary doctor at the Wildlife Care Centre in Bodakdev of Ahmedabad, who is involved in the treatment of injured birds after the Uttrayan festival in the state, said that there has been a decline of 40 per cent in the number of birds that were brought for treatment.

The rescue and treatment of thousands of injured birds during Uttarayan was carried out by Karuna Abhiyan.

At the Wildlife Care Centre in Bodakdev alone, 227 birds were treated, while 91 per cent of the 5,439 birds rescued statewide were saved.

Bimani said that the injured birds are treated at the centre, which offers top facilities, after careful observation.

"There has been a significant decline in the number of injured birds as compared to the previous year. Awareness could be the reason for this. There are 96 collection centres and 23 first-aid centres in the hospitals in Ahmedabad. When the injured birds are brought to the hospital, we first tag them for identification and later treat them based on observation. We have the facility to treat fractures in birds. There is only one centre in Gujarat with such state-of-the-art facilities, the Wildlife Care Centre, Forest Department, Government of Gujarat," Bimani told ANI.

A total of 527 injured birds from various species came for treatment. There has been a 40 per cent decline in the injured birds this year, he said.

Earlier, on the joyous and festive occasion of Uttarayan, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Kite Festival 2026, organised by the Sahay Foundation at Central Vista in Gandhinagar.

According to the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO), CM Patel joined the citizens in kite flying and extended his greetings on the occasion of the Uttarayan festival. CM flew kites and distributed laddoos and chikki to the citizens.

While extending his Uttarayan greetings to all the citizens of the state, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel stated that just as people fly their kites high in the sky during the festival, Uttarayan should also become a festival of enthusiasm that helps all citizens reach new heights of happiness, peace, prosperity, and progress in their lives.

The Chief Minister formally inaugurated the 2026 Kite Festival celebrations by releasing balloons into the sky.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Aman W
While the decline is good, 227 birds injured at just one centre is still 227 too many. We celebrate Uttarayan with such joy, but our fun shouldn't come at the cost of wildlife suffering. The government should enforce a complete ban on Chinese manja and promote only cotton strings.
R
Rohit P
It's heartening to see the state-of-the-art facility in Bodakdev. Having a dedicated centre with fracture treatment for birds is a big step forward. Hope other states learn from Gujarat's model. The forest department and volunteers deserve a lot of credit.
S
Sarah B
I appreciate the balanced reporting—showing both the festive joy with the CM flying kites and the sobering reality of bird injuries. Traditions can evolve. Let's make Uttarayan a festival of joy for all living beings, not just humans.
K
Karthik V
The 96 collection centres are key. Easy access for citizens to report and hand over injured birds makes a huge difference. Public participation is as important as the medical treatment. More cities need this network.
N
Nisha Z
A respectful criticism: The article mentions the CM distributing laddoos, but I wish there was more emphasis on the message he could have given about responsible kite flying. Leaders have a platform to drive change. The focus should be on reducing injuries to zero, not just celebrating a decline.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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