Charity for birds becomes liability for humans

Increasing number of kites lead to decreasing prey, resulting in attacks on citizens

LAHORE: Charity meat, which is being sold to feed the kites at roadside locations in Lahore, has not only resulted in an abundance of the predatory birds in certain areas of the city, but has also made them more aggressive and dangerous for humans.

As a result of people throwing meat to feed the kites, these birds are now attacking humans as well, for meat. Due to the increasing number of kites, many small bird species are becoming extinct. If one travels to Canal Road, Ring Road, Mehmood Booti and Ravi Bridge, he or she will find flocks of kites searching for food.

Kites gather in those areas where meat is scattered. Dozens of people can be seen selling meat for kites on Canal Road during early hours of the day. The people commuting to offices often stop to buy the meat in order to feed the birds. Meat sellers cut the charity meat into piece which is then thrown by people and the kites fight to fly away with it.

Often these predatory birds attack passersby and motorcyclists and end up colliding with windshields of vehicles. After district government and traffic police’s action against meat vendors inside the city, they moved to surrounding areas including Jullo, Harbanspura, Manawan and Ravi Bridge and are now doing business there.

Over 70% of Siberian migratory birds have stopped visiting Pakistan

WWF Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said that the kite is a predatory bird which previously used to fly in deserts and isolated plain areas. “However, as garbage piled up in certain areas of cities, kites slowly began to move to urban areas.”

The DG added that it is animal psychology that wherever they find their convenience in terms of survival, they move to that place.

“The dumping site of the solid waste management company near Mehmood Booti, in the provincial capital, is their biggest habitat where hundreds of kites can be seen.”

He said that the increase in the number of kites in Lahore has had a negative effect on many small birds. “The kites destroy the nests of small birds and eat their eggs, while they also hunt small birds.”

The growing number of kites is not only dangerous to the environment but also to birds including parrots, mynas, woodpeckers and cuckoos that are also becoming rare.

Punjab Wildlife Deputy Director Chaudhry Shafqat Ali told The Express Tribune that the behaviour of kites had changed due to easily available charity meat and they had become more aggressive.  “Due to their aggressive behavior they often attack humans.”

People’s activity of throwing meat to feed kites has influenced the birds’ natural way of obtaining food, he added. In Lahore, wherever the charity meat is being sold, the predatory birds will also be found there.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2020.