Date:15/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/15/stories/2008031560360600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

NGO rescues rare bird species

Special Correspondent

Pet owner had kept Himalayan Hill Maina, Alexandria Parakeets

Birds covered under Wildlife Protection Act, 1960
Rescued birds will be handed over to zoo officials

IN SAFE HANDS: The Himalayan Hill Maina and Alexandria Parakeet rescued from a pet owner in Hyderabad by Sahayog, an NGO.

HYDERABAD: Three rare birds, including the close to extinction ‘Himalayan Hill Maina’ and two ‘Alexandria Parakeets’ were rescued from a pet owner in the city by Sahayog, an NGO.

Sahayog, an animal welfare organisation, got an alert on Wednesday regarding the presence of rare birds in the residence of one Gowri Shankar of Tadbund area.

As it is an offence to keep birds and animals covered under Wildlife Protection Act, 1960, the members of the organisation explained the provisions of the Act to the owner and rescued the birds, said Sahayog general secretary and State Animal Welfare Board member Mahesh Agarwal.

Matter reported

The matter was reported to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Hitesh Malhotra and he directed that the birds be handed over to the zoo authorities.

The birds would be handed over to the zoo authorities on Saturday.

The life span of ‘Alexandria Parakeet’ is about 100 years to 130 years. Interestingly the rare birds have been under the care of Gowri Shankar for the last five years. The pets were given to him by his former tenant.

Sahayog has permission of the Central Zoo Authority to keep rescued birds and animals for a transit period of 26 days before handing them over to the zoo authorities or releasing them in deep forests as per the directive of the authorities concerned.

The NGO also rescued recently about 300 snakes, parrots, peacocks, pigeons, Japanese squirrel, tortoises that were subjected to inhuman treatment, nurtured them and released them into the zoo under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1977, Mr. Agarwal said.