Close to 300 birds strangled by Chinese manja in 12 days in Bengaluru

With Makar Sankranti around the corner, kite flying has become a common sight across the city.

However, the use of banned Chinese manja threads has led to nearly 300 birds being strangled or injured in just the first 12 days of January, animal rescuers said.

Rescue groups say distress calls are rising sharply. “Usually, we receive two to three such calls a day. Over the past 10 days, this has gone up to five or six, and on some days even seven,” said a representative of People for Animals (PfA), which runs a wildlife hospital.

While PfA received close to 60 rescue calls this month, the Avian and Reptile Rehabilitation Centre (ARRC) recorded 244 manja-related cases in just 12 days.

“We are seeing a worrying rise in manja-related wildlife casualties even before Sankranti. In less than two weeks this year, we have already rescued 244 animals injured by these deadly strings,” said Subiksha Venkatesh, lead rehabilitator at ARRC.

The Forest, Ecology and Environment Department banned nylon manja in June 2016, but weak enforcement continues to endanger wildlife. ARRC data shows that at least 9,000 birds have been affected by manja threads over the past three years.

“Many manufacturers market these strings simply as kite-flying threads. There is little enforcement, and often no checks to distinguish between cotton and nylon manja. During awareness drives, police do assist us in seizing illegal threads,” said Jayanthi Kallam, executive director of ARRC.

ARRC volunteers have been conducting awareness campaigns at kite-flying events across the city. “At a recent kite festival, about 10 kg of manja was collected and prevented from entering the grounds. Once people understood the harm, many voluntarily handed it over,” said Vijay Gowda, a rescuer with ARRC.

Rescuers said the threads are almost invisible and often get caught on trees or electric wires, causing birds to be strangled mid-flight. The nylon strings can cut deep into birds’ wings and necks, often proving fatal.

Wildlife casualties soar

2019: 349

2020: 1,323

2021: 3,072

2022: 2,381

2023: 2,678

2024: 2,648

2025: 3,614

2026 (till Jan 12): 244

(As reported to NGO ARRC)