HYDERABAD: Forest officials on Tuesday apprehended a person for transporting 110 chicks of the Alexandrine parakeet, a species listed under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The accused has been identified as Mohammed Farooq, who purchased the chicks for illegal sale.
Acting on a tip, the south zone task force arrested the accused in Chudi Bazaar. Principal chief conservator of forests R.M. Dobriyal, head of forest force, said that the accused had been remanded and faces a sentence of three to seven years in prison. The PCCF has ordered to shift the seized parakeets to the Nehru Zoological Park for safety.
“The flock consists of both male and female chicks. They are small, just recently arrived, and are in good health. They are eating well, and there are no issues with feeding,” said a zoo official. “We are taking proper care of them.”
The chicks were being fed powdered red gram, a special food for them. “As for the observation period, they came to us at 7.30 pm. There is no clarity on how long they will stay with us, as we are awaiting further instructions. The Hyderabad district authorities have been informed.”
Raghavendra, task force inspector, south zone, told Deccan Chronicle“We all love parrots and understand the gravity of this crime. We received a tip-off and apprehended the accused from the shop where he was selling them in Chudi Bazaar.”
