Chennai: Illegal parakeet traders busted

Madurai/ CHENNAI: Forest officials from nine divisions of the state cracked down on those involved in illegal trading of parakeets and munias with Kerala. The team nabbed four traders in Karur and Tirupur after conducting raids at 22 locations including Karur, Tirupur, Kodaikanal, Tiruchy and Thanjavur on Thursday. The officials confiscated 207 parakeets and 67 munias and imposed a fine on them as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

The interrogation also revealed that birds were also smuggled into Kerala for sale, Anbu, divisional forest officer, Karur, told DC. Based on intelligence inputs, foresters working in districts located close to western ghats were alerted for inter-district drive. Forest officials in Kerala were also informed about the illegal trading of birds.

According to wildlife activist K. Mohanraj of Coimbatore, illegal trade of birds has to made a serious offence. There is a need for more such arrests and drives against those who poach birds. Last year there were similar such seizures of munias in large numbers. The habitat of parakeets and munias need protection as they are  located on the outskirts of tiger reserves, he said.