Bhubaneswar: Forest officials have rescued a large number of parrot chicks and detained two persons in this connection in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district.
According to Kushal Biswas, honorary wildlife warden, Khurda, the Forest department received reliable information on Saturday night that two persons had kept the parrot chicks for sale in Nuapola under Jagatsinghpur Sadar block of the district.
On the direction of Cuttack Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), a team of Forest officials was formed to rescue the parrots. The team conducted a raid on the house of the two persons in Nuapola early Sunday morning.
“During the raid, the Forest officials found 72 parrot chicks kept in three separate boxes in the house. They also apprehended the two persons. The detained persons have admitted that they had kept the parrots for sale,” Biswal said.
Stating that possession, sale and trade of parrots is prohibited under Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act-2022, he said the birds will be released at a safe habitation soon.
The two persons have been kept in Jagatsinghpur Forest Range office for questioning. Efforts are on to ascertain the source of procurement of parrots and involvement of other persons in the illegal trade.
