Shocked about dumping of kites, HC-appointed panel writes to SGNP

Sunday mid-day's April 27 report on the dumping of 95 injured kites at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) has caught the attention of animal lover Shakuntala Majumdar, convenor of the Committee to Monitor Welfare of Birds and Pets, appointed by the Bombay High Court. She has written a letter to the chief conservator of SGNP on the issue.

The rescued kites were locked inside a dilapidated structure near Tulsi lake. This area is divided into three rooms and connected through doors. There are three windows of which one remains open, resulting in poor ventilation for the birds

The letter, which bears the subject, ‘News article in mid-day, ‘Flown into Misery: Forest Officials Dump 95 Injured Kites at SGNP', states, "We are shocked to learn that the seized kites were dumped inside a dilapidated structure inside the core sector of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park."

"This office would like to know immediately about the physical and medical condition of the birds so found, as well as the plan about their immediate and future rehabilitation." Majumdar wrote in the letter, adding, "We would like the birds to be immediately moved to larger cages inside the SGNP (deer section)."

"If your office seeks help from any NGO, our office will coordinate. Previously, on several occasions this office has sent its correspondences to your office and has not received any replies. We hope that the gravity of this matter does not prompt another such slight of notice," the letter added.

The officers of the Bombay Territorial Range of Thane Forest Department (TFD) took the 95 rescued kites from the residence of Pradeep D'souza, an animal lover. However, instead of handing over the injured birds to the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Pune's Katraj, they released them in the core forest of SGNP.