Gandhinagar: About 90% of all the birds that were injured during the Uttarayan festival this year could be saved, the state govt said on Monday. As part of the Karuna Abhiyan conducted from Jan 10 to 20 this year, a total of 16,380 injured birds of 41 species were rescued, of which 14,690 were treated and saved, while 1,690 died.The scheduled birds that were injured and rescued during the kite festival across the state included kite, parakeet, crane, black ibis, dove, owl, bat, hawk, vulture, barn owl, starling, quail, swan, myna, peacock, eagle, budgerigar, green pigeon, tailorbird and others.Pigeons accounted for 83% of all birds that were injured between Jan 10 and 20 in the state, with 13,636 injured pigeons brought for treatment at various centres.The govt said on Monday that the highest number of birds treated were from Ahmedabad, with 7,040 treated and 6,532 saved. In Surat, out of 4,800 injured birds, 4,194 were saved. In Vadodara, 649 out of 722 injured birds could be saved. In Rajkot, 553 out of 676 injured birds were saved, and in Gandhinagar, 313 out of 329 birds were saved.The govt set up 450 collection centres, 60 control rooms, and 480 treatment centres for bird care. 650 veterinary doctors, 8,000 employees and volunteers were involved in bird rescue and treatment. District-wise nodal and control officers were appointed by the forest department to ensure timely treatment for the injured birds.
