Bird trader arrested in Delhi
July 15, 2007 — Filed in: Conservation
A trader dealing in protected birds was arrested in Delhi in a dramatic operation no Saturday.
Four Alexandrine parakeets, 60 rose ringed parakeets and 30 munias were seized from him.
The raid was conducted by the wildlife crime control bureau.
The protected birds were concealed in store rooms in the Jama Masjid area in small cages in cloth bags.
They had come as cargo on an Indian flight from Calcutta.
According to the wildlfe protection act any trade in these birds is illegal and punishment can be imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.
Wildlife officials say the dealers pretend these are exotic birds, which can be sold.
But these birds are in the protected category and cannot be traded under any circumstances.
However the man under arrest says he has nothing to do with the birds.
The raid by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a strong warning to poachers and traders dealing. The bureau said many such raids will be conducted across the country.
