This is Love A Sky of Kites
Oct 8, 2025
Nadim Shehzad, a wildlife rescuer and co-founder of a bird hospital in Delhi, shares his journey treating injured black kites. He discusses the cultural significance of kite-flying in India and the challenges of using harmful materials like manja. Nadim recounts emotional stories of rescuing birds, the gap in veterinary care for carnivorous species, and how he learned to perform delicate surgeries. His work, highlighted in the documentary All That Breathes, resonates with the balance between celebration and wildlife safety.
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Durable Manja, Lasting Harm
- Chinese nylon manja is stronger and persists longer in the environment than traditional cotton string.
- Its durability causes strings to linger on trees, wires, and water bodies, increasing harm to people and wildlife.
Ban And Continued Use
- Chinese manja was banned in India in 2017 but remains available and widely used.
- The most common victims of stray manja are birds, which suffer wing amputations and prolonged deaths.
Hospital Refusal Sparks Rescue
- Nadim and his brother found an injured black kite and took it to a hospital that refused to treat it due to dietary restrictions.
- That refusal revealed a gap in care for carnivorous birds in their city.