HEADLINE

Indians Release Their Caged Birds for Freedom

"Bird Freedom Day was celebrated in Jaipur, India, ealier this September, with caged birds across the city released."

Bird Freedom Day was celebrated in Jaipur, India, ealier this September, with caged birds across the city released.

Among approximately 10,000 species of birds globally, an estimated 12 percent are almost extinct.

Here at Jaipur central park, birds are chirping freely and sitting in the trees. 

Avinash Kumar is here with his friends after they freed their caged birds. “The cages are like prison for free-flying birds, so I decided to release them. I can’t explain their body language, but each bird looked eager to be released.

This is the second celebration of Bird Freedom Day, an annual event promoting the wide release of caged birds. 

Hundreds of pigeons, laughing dove and tailor birds were released this year.

Organizer Vipin Kumar Jain says that the idea of having today’s celebration was based on his personal experience, when he was trapped in an elevator.

“In the lift, I could understand the pain of a bird. Caged birds spend their full time in a prison. We can complain, but the birds can’t. We are spreading awareness about not keeping birds inside cages,” Vipin said.

India has 13 percent of total bird species in the world, 42 of them are endemic.

In May this year, the Delhi High Court declared that birds have the right to fly in the sky and should not be caged. 

Bird expert Suraj Ziddi explains why we need to keep birds alive. 

“The beautiful birds are part of ecological environment. Birds do not recognize any political boundaries. Birds are the best tree growers; they eat fruits and the seed that they eat from other places. Birds create diversity for the nature, betterment of the environment, for the betterment of the wild life.”

5-year-old Lavnaya is closely watching the birds.  She joins the pledge to protect birds.

Today, I have learned that birds should never be kept in cages. We should also not tease them. All the children should learn how to save them,” she said.

• eng
• Jasvinder Sehgal
• Bird freedom day
• bird right