Parrot smuggling cracked; two arrested by forest department in Odisha's Rourkela

Amid allegations about rampant smuggling of wild birds and parrots, the forest department cracked down on some people involved in the illegal trade in Rourkela and the areas bordering Jharkhand.

Acting on a tip-off about the bird smuggling, forest officials raided areas in Rourkela and on the borders of Jharkhand on Tuesday. They seized a large number of parrots which were being smuggled into other states for sale. They arrested two persons while two others managed to escape.   

One of the accused said, ”I used to purchase the birds from others and sell them.” 

Rourkela DFO Jashabanta Sethi, said, ”We got information about parrots being smuggled in a bus last evening. Two persons carried parrots in 10 carton boxes on a bike. We apprehended them. Further investigation revealed that two other persons kept parrots in two boxes. We conducted a raid and seized the birds." 

He added that the accused were regularly carrying out bird smuggling. “Since smuggling of wild birds is punishable under the Wildlife Protection Act, we have registered a case against the accused persons. They will be forwarded to court. Two others are absconding. They will be nabbed soon,” the DFO added.