Bhubaneswar: Officials of the Forest department claimed to have rescued at least 72 parrot chicks during a raid in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district in the wee hours of today.
The Forest department officials have detained two persons for their alleged involvement in the illegal wildlife trade, sources said.
On a tip-off, the officials of the Forest department conducted the raid in Nuapola area of Jagatsinghpur Sadar block around 2 am today and rescued the parrot chicks.
“We received tip-off regarding the illegal wildlife trade in Nuapola area of Jagatsinghpur Sadar block yesterday night. As per the direction of Cuttack Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), we formed a team and conducted the raid. As many as 72 parrot chicks were seized and two persons were detained during the raid. The detained persons have been brought to Jagatsinghpur Forest Range Office for questioning,” said Honorary Wildlife Warden, Khurda, Kushal Biswas.
Locals, meanwhile, alleged that some people in Jagatsinghpur Sadar area have been selling parrots illegally along Jagatsinghpur-Cuttack main road for last several days.
“People cannot keep parrots in their homes as per the provisions of Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act-2022,” Biswas added.
