The Odisha Forest Department's efforts to curb illegal wildlife poaching seem to have little effect on many. It is being said that though, the government has been taking preemptive action against trapping of birds be it protected parakeets or migratory water fowls, the illegal practice continues to stroke concerns among the wildlife conservation community.
Noted wildlife preservationist Subhendu Mallik has recently urged the intervention of Odisha Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to ensure safety of protected wild birds in the State which are often traded for pet keeping.
Mallik has cited an instance of a man trapping some parakeet chicks inside a forest reportedly in Kandhamal through his complaint to the PCCF-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha.
As per the complaint, a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGSgXmJV2AQ) uploaded in a YouTube channel named ‘kandhamal l.k channel’ shows the man climbing a tree in the jungle and catching three Alexandrine parakeet chicks from the mother’s nest.
Mallik has alleged that since Alexandrine parakeet is a protected bird under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the video surely provides prima facie to a wildlife crime.
He has urged PCCF Odisha to take stringent action against the hunter and issue a fresh directive to curb such acts exclusively in the State.
“Hunters supply parakeet chicks to different cities of Odisha, and parakeets are being sold openly in most parts of the state. Such hunting videos surely encourage others to keep parakeets as pets. Nevertheless, posting of such videos of Indian wildlife on YouTube and other social media platforms is a violation of the advisory of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau File No: 12-23/WCCB/2014/No. 06/2051 on 30 December 2014,” the wildlife conservationist mentioned in the letter he wrote to PCCF office.
Recently, report of a missing pet parrot named ‘Coco’ made headlines in the State. Even though the bird was later rescued by a family and handed over to the owner, Forest Department later took possession of the bird as it is illegal to pet a parrot.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)