Kite versus kite: A retrospective analysis

During Sankranti (Uttarayan), kites are flown across India, leading to widespread use of manja or Chinese dor a banned but illegally used thread that severely injures birds. This study examines manja-related injuries in black kites (Milvus migrans) using 10 years of data (2013-2023) from the PFA Wildlife Hospital, Bangalore. Among 840 cases, peak injuries (11/year) occurred in June, coinciding with the fledging season, despite Sankranti falling in January. Injuries spiked in 2021 (307 cases) post-COVID-19 lockdown. The cases continued to rise despite slowing human population growth and a decline in black kite abundance index.