India, Jan. 21 -- The number of bird- and animal- rescue calls recorded by the Pune fire department in 2025 is the highest in over a decade since 2014, leading to concerns over the continued use of 'banned' nylon kite strings commonly known as nylon manja. As per data, the department responded to as many as 1,110 wildlife-related rescue calls last year - the highest figure since 2014 - with nearly 90% of these emergencies/injuries caused by nylon manja.

The surge in such calls highlights a troubling trend that has only intensified over the past few years, particularly during festivals associated with kite flying such as Makar Sankranti. Birds remain the worst affected, though many cases involving small mammals have also been reported.

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