In a major initiative to save flying birds, the Karnataka Government has imposed a total ban on Chinese manja (dor) a synthetic thread made out of glass and other
harmful material which is used to fly kites. The razor sharp synthetic non-bio degradable Chinese made thread use to be a death trap for birds especially for vultures, crows and other flying birds.
A circular issued by the Government says no person, including shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler, retailer, trader, hawker or salesperson shall procure, stock, sell and use Chinese manja. The order also empowers all forest officers, forest and horticulture wing of Bengaluru coporation, assistant environmental officer and senior environmental officer of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to enforce the above directions. The officers assigned with the implementation of the ban can take cognizance of offences and initiate legal action for violation of this direction under Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, wherever they are empowered.
According to Government officials and activists the Chinese manja is made of nylon and is coated with finely crushed glass and pose grave danger to birds like vultures, kites, owls and crows which get entangled in them. Trapped birds getting injured while trying to free themselves from a manja and ultimately dying atop trees and buildings are a common sight. The thread is dangerous not just for birds but for other animals too.
According to Sharath Babu, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Bengaluru, it took nearly six long years for the government to ban Chinese manja which is always a death trap to birds. He said “ we are happy government has banned this deadly thread which is dangerous to birds and the ban should be implemented in its true letter and spirit”.
According to a study titled, Kite flying: Effect of Chinese manja on birds in Bangalore, released in 2015 had pointed out that 268 birds got entangled in Chinese manja in a span of four years. “These birds sustained various degrees of injuries and a few eventually died. In many cases, the entangled and dangling birds had to be rescued manually, as the fire brigade ladder couldn’t reach the height at which they were stuck. The effect of the manja was telling on larger birds, with black kites, milvus migrans, and crows being prime victims,” the study observed.
Even though the union government has banned this death trap thread in 2014 itself , Karnataka has banned it now after a huge protests by environmentalist and activists.