SPCA bats for safety of birds, animals during kite festival

Mumbai: Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has issued guidelines for the public to follow during Makar Sankrant festival. SPCA has assigned several ambulances across the city and sent out officials to aid and take care of birds and animals that may be injured by strings used to fly kites during the festival.

Speaking on hazards of the festival, Lt Col Dr J.C. Khanna of SPCA said, “Even though the government has issued strict orders and banned the use of nylon and metal coated strings for flying kites, revelers pay little heed. Hence, we have decided to have a team of volunteers and doctors to scour the city to treat animals and birds that may suffer injuries during the festival.”

Dr Khanna added that apart from sending out volunteers, SPCA would be stationing ambulances in prominent locations across the city to treat injured birds and animals. “In the past, birds and animals succumbed to their injuries due to delay in providing medical help. Hence, SPCA will be stationing ambulances at places from where a higher number of injuries have been reported in the past. As some of the injured birds and animals do not need to be taken to the veterinary hospital in Lower Parel, they will be treated and set free,” he said.

SPCA volunteers will also go around exhorting people to take care of animals and birds by carrying placards and distributing flyers on the day of the festival. “Though we have not been able to start any special number for people to report injured animals or birds during the festival, people can call on the SPCA helpline number and our volunteers will try to reach there promptly,” Dr Khanna said. He added that such festivals should be discontinued as they caused unnecessary inconvenience not only to birds and animals but also human beings who used two-wheelers to commute in the city.