Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s flagship compassion initiative, Karuna Abhiyan, has delivered strong results this year by rescuing and treating thousands of birds injured during the Uttarayan kite-flying festival held on Makar Sankranti.
According to state minister Harsh Sanghavi, a total of 5,439 birds were treated across Gujarat up to January 14, 2026. Of these, 4,937 birds—nearly 91 per cent—were successfully rehabilitated and saved.
Karuna Abhiyan brings together veterinarians, volunteers and emergency response teams to provide timely medical care to birds, which are especially vulnerable during the kite-flying season when injury cases spike sharply. The initiative aims to give injured birds a second chance at life through swift rescue and treatment.
Describing the programme as “a unique initiative for compassion towards living beings,” the minister highlighted its expanding reach and growing impact across the state.
Beyond Karuna Abhiyan, Gujarat has developed a comprehensive and multi-layered wildlife protection framework, combining policy measures, conservation programmes, rescue networks and community participation to safeguard animals.
The state is home to India’s only population of Asiatic lions, protected under the internationally recognised Gir Conservation Project. The programme includes habitat restoration, anti-poaching patrols, radio-collaring, wildlife corridors and continuous scientific monitoring.
Gujarat also operates an extensive network of Wildlife Rescue and Rapid Response Units, supported by the Forest Department, non-governmental organisations and trained volunteers. These teams respond to animal injuries, emergencies and instances of human–wildlife conflict.
During the kite-flying season, initiatives like Karuna Abhiyan mobilise thousands of volunteers and veterinarians, while specialised facilities such as Forest Department hospitals, wildlife rehabilitation centres and institutions like the Jivdaya Charitable Trust provide round-the-clock medical care.
In addition, the state has expanded protected areas covering marine national parks, wetlands, desert ecosystems and community conservation zones. Conservation efforts focus on species including lions, leopards, wild asses, flamingos and diverse marine life along the Gulf of Kutch.
With sustained emphasis on awareness campaigns, strict anti-poaching enforcement, habitat improvement, rescue helplines and partnerships with NGOs, academic institutions and local communities, Gujarat continues to rank among India’s most proactive states in wildlife conservation and animal welfare.
With inputs from IANS