DFS receives 717 calls for bird rescue in August

New Delhi: The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has received 717 calls in August regarding rescue of birds majority of which were entangled in chinese manja or glass coated strings.

According to a senior DFS official, between August 1 and August 28, the department attended 717 bird rescue calls, which means 25 calls every day.

The maximum number of calls were received from the old Delhi area. “Kite flying is popular in old Delhi and birds get stuck in manja, when they sit on electric wires and trees, said an official.

Chief fire officer of DFS, Atul Garg said, the kite strings stuck on trees pose a threat to birds which often get entangled in them.

The DFS use their special vehicles — hydraulic platform tenders that can reach up to a height of 42 metres, for such calls.

“Birds are equally important to us. When the firemen are attending to such calls and they feel that the ladder won’t be sufficient to reach the bird, they inform the control room to send a hydraulic platform tender,” DFS said.

The Delhi Fire Service received 207 bird rescue calls in January, while 184 in February. There was a decline in March as 97 such calls were received.

There were 149 calls in April, 126 in May, 130 calls in June and 222 call were received in July, stated the Delhi Fire Service data.

“There is no fixed method to rescue the birds because of the place, where they are stuck or the height at which they are stuck are different. The firemen entrusted with the call has to apply their presence of mind while dealing with the situation,” Mr Garg said.

Delhi Fire Service is not only committed to save human lives but also the lives of animals and birds who are stuck in fires or in such situations, said the DFS official.