Bird caught in kite string (manja): what to do
Rescue guide · Last reviewed
Short answer
Kite string injuries are the single largest cause of bird rescue calls in Mumbai around Makar Sankranti in mid-January, and they continue all year wherever kites are flown. Glass-coated and synthetic manja does not snap — it cuts, and it keeps cutting.
Birds tangled in it typically hang from trees, poles and cables for hours before anyone notices, and the damage from a panicked bird struggling against the string is usually worse than the original cut.
How to help a bird tangled in kite string
You will need: Blunt-nosed scissors or nail clippers · A cloth or towel to cover the bird · A ventilated cardboard box · Gloves, if the string is glass-coated
- 1
Do not pull the string
This is the one rule that matters most. Manja is coated in powdered glass; pulling it draws the abrasive edge deeper through skin, muscle and tendon, and has cost many birds a wing that could have been saved. Never tug the string to free the bird, and never yank it out of a wound.
- 2
Call for help before you climb
Most tangled birds are up a tree, on a cable or on a pole. Call a rescue helpline first and describe the height and location. Do not climb near overhead power lines or onto a roof edge for any bird — rescuers are equipped for this and people have died attempting it.
- 3
Cover the bird to stop it struggling
Once you can reach it safely, drape a cloth over the bird. In the dark it stops thrashing almost at once, which immediately stops the string cutting further. Support its weight with one hand so it is not hanging by the injured part.
- 4
Cut the string, not the bird
Using blunt-nosed scissors, cut the string well away from the body on both sides so the bird is free of the tree, wire or kite. Leave a generous length attached rather than cutting close to the skin. Work slowly and keep the blades pointing away from the bird.
- 5
Leave embedded string exactly where it is
Any string that has cut into the flesh, wrapped tightly around a wing joint, or disappeared under the skin must stay there. It is often the only thing holding a severed blood vessel closed, and removing it outside a clinic can cause fatal bleeding. Tell the rescuer or vet that embedded string is present.
- 6
Contain and transport
Place the bird in a ventilated cardboard box lined with soft cloth, keep it closed, dark and quiet, and get it to a vet or rescuer as quickly as you can. Do not offer food or water. Do not wash, clean or dress the wound.
Do
- Cut the loose ends and free the bird from whatever it is hanging on.
- Say clearly on the phone that it is a manja case — these are triaged as urgent.
- Check the same tree or cable for a second tangled bird. They often come in pairs.
- Collect and bin any loose manja you can safely reach, so the next bird does not hit it.
Do not
- Do not pull, tug or unwind string that has cut into the bird.
- Do not climb near live electrical cables or onto an unsafe roof.
- Do not clean the wound, apply turmeric, oil or antiseptic, or bandage it.
- Do not delay to record video — these birds lose blood quickly.
Why manja injuries are so serious
Glass-coated and synthetic strings cut cleanly through skin, muscle and tendon, and they cut in the places that matter most: the leading edge of the wing, the joints, the neck and the legs. A cut that looks minor from below often turns out to have severed the tendons a bird needs to fly.
The second problem is time. A bird hanging in a tree overnight arrives dehydrated and exhausted on top of its injury, which is why these cases are prioritised and why reporting one quickly genuinely changes the outcome.
During kite season
- Look up. Check trees, terraces, cables and poles near your building, especially in the days after a kite festival.
- A bird hanging motionless may still be alive — report it rather than assuming.
- Rescue helplines run extended hours over Makar Sankranti and some numbers operate only on those days.
- Cut down and bin snagged kite string even when no bird is on it. It stays lethal for months.
Need a rescuer right now?
Mumbai bird and animal rescue helpline numbers, listed area by area.
Open the rescue helplineFrequently asked
Should I pull the kite string out of an injured bird?
No, never. Glass-coated manja cuts deeper as it is pulled and can sever tendons or amputate a wing. Cut the loose ends well away from the body to free the bird, leave any embedded string in place, and let a vet remove it under proper conditions.
A bird is hanging from a tree by kite string. What should I do?
Call a rescue helpline immediately and describe the exact location and height. Do not climb near power lines or onto roof edges. If you can reach the bird safely, cover it with a cloth to stop it struggling, cut the string clear of its body, and contain it in a ventilated box.
The bird looks fine apart from the string. Does it still need a vet?
Yes. Manja cuts are narrow and often hidden under feathers while having already cut through tendons underneath, and constricted limbs can lose blood supply hours later. Every string-entanglement case should be seen by a vet.
When are kite string injuries most common in Mumbai?
They peak around Makar Sankranti in mid-January, when kite flying is heaviest, and continue at a lower rate all year. Rescue groups run extended helpline hours during the festival, and a few numbers operate only on those specific days.
This guide covers containment and transport first aid only — the same advice rescue groups give over the phone. It is not veterinary treatment and does not replace a vet. Any injured, sick or orphaned wild animal should be handed to a registered rescue group or a veterinarian as soon as possible.