Forest dept cracks down on illegal bird trade in Kanpur, 1 arrested

Kanpur: Conducting a raid at Parade Bazaar here on Thursday, forest officials rescued numerous protected avian species and arrested a person in this connection.
According to forest officer Ram Babu Dohre, acting on a tip-off about the illegal trade of protected birds, a team led by DFO Divya, RFO Rakesh Kumar Pandey and Forest Officer Ram Babu Dohreconducted the raid. During the action at the bird market, local residents assembled and attempted to obstruct the officials.
The team apprehended one Rajkumar while another person managed to escape. The detained person was sent to Kotwali police custody, and authorities registered a case under the Wildlife Protection Act against him. The illegal possession and trade of protected birds carry a punishment of three to seven years of imprisonment along with a penalty of Rs 25,000.
The rescued birds included 25 Alexandrine parakeet chicks, 40 rose-ringed parakeet chicks, 18 rose-ringed parakeets, one Alexandrine parakeet, 25 red munias, 15 scaly-breasted munias, one plum-headed parakeet, and three owl chicks.
The rescued birds were first examined by veterinarians to assess their health conditions. The forest department also initiated procedures for the proper care and rehabilitation of the rescued birds.
Meanwhile, the local authorities have increased surveillance in Parade Bazaar area to prevent similar illegal trading activities. The forest department also launched an awareness campaign to educate local residents about wildlife protection laws and the importance of preserving these species in their natural habitats.
The investigation revealed that the birds were sourced from various locations and were meant to be sold as exotic pets.
The forest department team gathered evidence about the trading network and shared the information with neighbouring districts to track down other potential suspects.