The volunteers of Human Society International (HSI), India managed to snag a fortune teller in Hyderabad for violating the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The HSI members caught the fortune teller with a rose-ringed parakeet, which was kept in a tiny cage, with trimmed wings, and which appeared starved and completely dehydrated.
“He was making the rounds of Indian Airlines Colony in Begumpet when we were alerted. We filed a complaint at the Begumpet police station and they registered our complaint and acted on it. A ‘panchnama’ has already been filed against the fortune teller on Friday and we are hoping that a charge-sheet will be prepared soon,” said wildlife campaign manager for HIS, India, C. Samyukta. With the help of officials from the Forest Department, the HSI took immediate custody of the bird for rehabilitation. The HSI members said that such practices clearly violate the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The animal activities maintained that there was a need for public to understand the link between demand for exotic birds and wildlife trade.
“In Hyderabad alone, there is a growing demand for wild and exotic birds among people. That’s the reason why markets like Murgi Chowk in the old city thrive. There is a need to spread awareness on the importance of protecting such birds among general public,” animal activists from HSI said.
