Rising Temperatures And Manja Injuries Threaten Pune’s Wildlife; 332 Cases Of Bird Injuries Attended By RESQ
Rising Temperatures And Manja Injuries Threaten Pune’s Wildlife; 332 Cases Of Bird Injuries Attended By RESQ
Pune, February 6, 2025 – Pune’s unseasonably high temperatures in January have severely impacted wildlife, with 177 cases of dehydration among animals and a staggering 100% rise in bird injuries caused by nylon manja. The RESQ Charitable Trust, a partner of the Maharashtra forest department, reported that 158 birds and 19 mammals were admitted to the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC) in Bavdhan due to weather-related health issues.
https://storage.googleapis.com/resqct/resq-newsletter-dec-2024.pdf
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune recorded an average temperature of 31.3°C in January, 1.5°C above the normal 29.8°C. The city even saw a peak temperature of 35.9°C, making it an unusually warm month.
Alongside heat-related cases, there was a drastic rise in manja injuries. Data from RESQ Charitable Trust revealed that 355 birds were admitted to the TTC in January due to manja-related injuries, doubling from 177 cases in January 2024 and a significant jump from just 66 cases in January 2023. Despite a ban, the continued use of nylon manja remains a major hazard to both wildlife and humans. Conservationists are urging stricter enforcement to curb its usage and prevent further harm.
According to the report in its monthly newsletter for January 2025, “This month alone, over 332 cases of birds injured by manja were reported and responded to. That’s an average of over ten calls a day, each a fight to save a life caught in an invisible death trap. On-site teams raced against time, veterinary teams worked tirelessly, and rehabilitation teams pushed their limits to give these birds a second chance. But the real cost? Their suffering. A few moments of thrill from flying kites with lethal nylon manja can mean death for hundreds of birds. Is a fleeting joy worth a lifetime of pain? Say NO to nylon manja.”
