Good Samaritans rescue 38 kites from Gandhigram

Rains accompanied by strong winds uprooted a large tree near Gandhigram railway station last week which imperiled 43 Indian kites, a protected species under Wildlife Protection Act, nesting there. However, thanks to a good Samaritan, who first came across drenched birds fluttering about, 38 of the 43 birds were rescued. Three died on the spot while two died during the rescue process.

At around 8 pm on June 18, Sanjay Thakor (20) and his boss Harshil Dhomse were making routine inquiry whether anyone was injured after a huge tree fell on a car, in the vicinity of their office near Gandhigram railway station. Sanjay saw a large flock of kites fluttering around the uprooted tree. They were drenched and could not take flight. Several of them appeared bruised and battered by heavy rains.

Thakor brought it to Dhomse's attention and they together picked up birds from 4-feet deep water and put them to safety. Meanwhile, Akash Shah, a businessman who also saw the plight of birds, put a message in a WhatsApp group of animal rescuers that a large flock of kites needed rescue near Gandhigram railway station.

Raju Bothra, owner of Maa Animal Foundation, responded to the call and arrived at the location after informing Danev veterinary hospital to stay on alert. Sanjay told Mirror, "My boss and I had never handled kites before and were apprehensive about picking them up to safety as we were aware that kites are wild, carnivorous birds. Once Rajubhai arrived, we helped him put them into ventilated cartons. We took 40 birds to the hospital along with Rajubhai. A few volunteers of Namo Namah Parivaar and Vedana Foundation also helped."

Recounting the incident, Raju Bothra said, "I came to know of the kites after a message was put in the Namo Namah WhatsApp group by Akash Shah. I reached the spot and both Sanjay and Dhomse helped me for over four hours to put 40 kites in the cartons."

Purvi Rahul, a trustee of Shree Danev Foundation that runs the veterinary hospital, was initially hesitant to keep the facility open at night but readily agreed after being told that lives of 40 kites were at stake.

Dr Janki Patel, veterinary surgeon at Shree Danev Foundation, said, "The birds had got drenched in the rains and were unable to fly. Half of them were juvenile. We put the birds in front of a heater the entire night to dry them off. Injured kites were segregated in the night and treated. We released 23 birds that were fit to fly the next day in presence of a forest official while the rest of the 15 were shifted to forest department's wildlife care centre in Bodakdev. Two had died on the way to the hospital."