Delhi Police and Wildlife SOS collaborate for a double kite rescue

Delhi Police got involved in a rescue operation when they spotted a black kite lying motionless on the side of the road on Mandir Marg.

Black kites are birds of prey and an important part of the food chain.

Double kite rescue: In successive rescue operations, Delhi Police stepped in as heroes to save distressed birds in the capital. Thanks to the quick intervention of police officers, Wildlife SOS was able to save two black kites on the same day. Both birds are currently under observation by the NGO and will be released soon once they are deemed fit.

Earlier on Friday, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit received a call from Lajpat Nagar police station after one of the officers discovered a distressed black kite on the floor of the station’s parking lot. Concerned about the bird’s welfare, the officer immediately informed Wildlife SOS through its emergency helpline (+91 9871963535).

In another case, Delhi Police got involved in a rescue operation when they spotted a black kite lying motionless on the side of the road on Mandir Marg. Thinking about the bird’s safety, they called Wildlife SOS for help, after which the NGO’s rescue team quickly reached the bird and released it safely. Upon observation, it was found that the bird had suffered a minor injury to its right wing and therefore had to be transferred to the Wildlife SOS transit facility.

Both birds of prey are currently under observation by the NGO’s veterinary team and will be released as soon as they are deemed healthy.

Amit Kumar, officer of Mandir Marg police station, revealed, “We were on patrol when we saw the kite lying helplessly on the ground. That is why we immediately informed the Wildlife SOS team to come and collect the bird.”

“Our association with the Delhi Police goes back more than two decades. With the help of awareness and outreach, we have been able to raise awareness about wildlife in the city. This kind of collaboration from Delhi Police is a result of the awareness work carried out, and we thank the sympathetic officers who took the step to inform our team,” said Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-Founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS.

Wasim Akram, deputy director of special projects at Wildlife SOS, said: “Black kites are birds of prey and an important part of the food chain. A large number of them were once active hunters and now hover over garbage dumps. Expanding urban settlements has resulted in the decline of their original prey base, altering their diet. Another major challenge for black kites is when their flight path is interrupted by large buildings and they become susceptible to mid-air collisions.”