Mumbai Forest Officials Act Against Illegal Possession of Alexandrine Parakeet, Following PETA India Complaint
Following a concerned citizen’s report about an Alexandrine parakeet being kept in a small cage at a residence in Andheri, PETA India worked with the Mumbai range of the Thane Forest Division to rescue the bird and get a preliminary offence report (POR) registered against the alleged illegal custodian. The POR was registered under sections 9, 39, 44, 48, and 48(A) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972.
Following the rescue, the parakeet was sent for a health check and is now under the care of the forest department. Upon examination, it was discovered that the parakeet is in a distressed state, suffering from weakness, and unable to take flight. The department is providing intensive treatment to ensure recovery before any plans for release are made.
Alexandrine parakeets are protected under Schedule II of the WPA, 1972 (as amended in 2022). Buying, selling, or possessing this species is an offence punishable by a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or a jail term of up to three years – or both.
In the illegal bird trade, countless victims are taken from their families and denied everything that’s natural and important to them so that they can be sold as “pets” or used as bogus fortune-tellers. Fledglings are often snatched from their nests, and others panic as they’re caught in traps or nets that can seriously injure or kill them as they struggle to break free. Captured birds are packed into small boxes, and an estimated 60% of them die in transit from broken wings or legs, thirst, or sheer panic. Those who survive face a bleak life in captivity, suffering from malnutrition, loneliness, depression, and stress.
