'Kite Fighting' Banned In Fairfax County Parks; Risks To People, Wildlife Cited

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The Fairfax County Park Authority recently banned kite fighting, a game that can cause harm to people, wildlife and parks with sharpened string.

Kite fighting, which has been popular in some Asian countries, is a game that involves trying to cut another player's kite line. The game has also been spotted in Fairfax County parks. The park authority said it has received increased reports of kite fighting that has harmed wildlife, plants and maintenance equipment.

The game poses safety concerns, as it typically involves super-sharp string to attack and cut opponents' kite lines in the game, according to the park authority. Players usually replace regular kite string with sharper material like metal filament, piano wire, fishing line and line coated with glass fragments.

The game proved to be fatal in India during a kite flying competition earlier this year, according to Voice of America. The news outlet reported six people died when their throats were cut by the sharpened string.

Sharpened kite string has been found tangled in treetops and low brush, along trails, in the water, and in green spaces in Fairfax County parks. When kite lines are cut, kites blown by the wind trail long lines of sharpened string behind them. Often, the kites and string are not thrown out, which can pose a hazard to people and animals, according to the park authority.

The park authority says the kite spring also gets caught in mowers and other equipment, which increases maintenance costs.

In Fairfax County parks, those playing kite fighting games will be asked to stop, and those who refuse or have repeated violations may be banned from parks.

Kite fighting can be reported to the Fairfax County Police Department at 703-691-2131.