Two nature enthusiasts and Forest Department personnel on Monday rescued five parakeets from a vendor at Ukkadam area.
According to N.I. Jalalaudeen of Nature Conservation Society (NCS), and Mohammed Saleem of Environment Conservation Group (ECG), the vendor was noticed possessing five parakeets.
On close examination, four of them were found to be Alexandrine Parakeet (Psttacula eupatria) and one Rose Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula Krameri) avian species which came under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
On instructions from District Forest Officer, V. Thirunavukkarasu, Forest Range Officer S.M. Natarajan reached the spot and took the vendor into custody and seized the birds.
Mr. Natarajan said that possession and trading of such birds are an offence and would attract a heavy penalty and habitual offenders could be even imprisoned.
Since the group that captured the birds or the vendor had clipped their wings, the Forest Department would nurture the birds for the next fortnight and once they regain strength, they would be let off in the wild.
In the event of people found to be possessing or trading in endangered or rare birds protected under various schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act, residents could inform the same to the District Forest Office at 0422-2456911.
