Forest officials act on PETA tip, seize plum-headed and Alexandrine parakeets
Jamshedpur Forest Department confiscates 30 protected parrots from unauthorized pet shop, highlighting ongoing wildlife trafficking concerns in the region.
JAMSHEDPUR – Thirty protected parrots were rescued during a raid on an illicit pet shop in Sakchi by forest officials.
The Jamshedpur Forest Department team responded to a complaint from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India by preventing an unauthorized impermanent pet shop from operating on Karim City College Road in Sakchi.
The operation led to the confiscation of 30 parrots, including plum-headed and Alexandrine species.
The store owner has been charged by the authorities with illegally possessing and selling protected birds.
Prior to their intended release into the wild, the confiscated parrots have been transported for health evaluation.
According to DFO Saba Alam Ansari, the birds will be returned to their natural habitat once they have been verified to be in excellent health.
Protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, are both plum-headed and Alexandrine parakeets.
The illegal trade of these species is punishable by a maximum of three years in prison, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
Sunayna Basu, PETA India’s Cruelty Response Coordinator, underscored the significance of the rescue, asserting that "Birds are intended to soar freely in the open sky, not to languish in cages."
Natesh SR, Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife, Jamshedpur, and DFO Saba Alam Ansari have been commended by PETA India for their prompt response to the circumstance.
