Wildlife panel seizes 70 birds

NEW DELHI: Illegal trade of protected birds continue unabated in the city with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) officials seizing 70 live birds including parrots and munias meant for sale.

Alexandrian parrots and black headed munias were seized from a locked room of a rented house in Daryaganj area in central Delhi, WCCB official Ramesh Pandey said.

However, no arrest has been made in this connection. "On the basis of an information, a raid was conducted by a WCCB team with assistance from local police. The team led by WCCB inspector Aarti Singh found the room, where the birds were kept, locked and the owners had no clue about the tenants to whom they had rented out the rooms," Pandey said.

During investigation, it was found that two minor boys living nearby were employed by the accused to feed the birds.

"The birds have been released in Kamla Nehru Ridge area while young ones have been sent to the zoo. A case has been registered and hunt has been launched to arrest the accused," Pandey added.

The official said caging protected birds is a crime and can attract a jail term of up to five years under the Wildlife Protection Act as the birds are categorized under Schedule 4 of the Act.