Parrots allowed flight to freedom
SAMBALPUR: About 100 parrots got a taste of freedom on Thursday after forest officials released them from captivity.
The harmless birds were seized from vendors selling them at various places and were housed in the Wild Animal Conservation Centre (WACC) at Motijharan here to make them fit for flight to freedom.
More birds are in captivity and will be released after they gain strength. Divisional Forest Officer (South) S C Sahu had seized the parrots on two occasions from Gole Bazar here on January 18 and from Naxapali on January 28 respectively.
It is learnt that about 25 birds were seized from one Md. Kalam of Motijharan who had been warned to stay away from the trade. However, the warning had no impact on him as another 51 parrots were seized from him when he was getting them from Rairakhol area.
Apart from Sahu, DFO (North) Uma Nanduri had also seized 90 parrots from Jharsuguda Railway Station on February 16 and two persons had been arrested.
DFO, Hirakud Wildlife Division and in-charge of WACC, Prem Kumar Jha said when the birds were brought, they were too small and were given proper feed in order to prepare them for their free flight.
Admitting that the kingpin behind the trading of parrots was still at large, Sahu said that there were legal loopholes which are helping the poachers and trade.