Hyderabad: Tradition puts Palapitta's life in jeopardy
Though the Indian Roller is a protected bird, they are caught by some people ahead of Dasara to earn money by cashing in on the tradition.
Hyderabad: A tradition has put the life of a Palapitta (Indian Roller) on a brink of death at a Durga Puja pandal near ECIL in Hyderabad on Friday.
In Telangana, it is believed that seeing a Palapitta after having darshan of goddess Durga on Dasara is a good omen.
The state bird of Telangana, which is generally found in fields, thin forests and on grass lands in urban and suburban areas, was found in a cage at a Durga pandal in the city. Though the Indian Roller is a protected bird, they are caught by some people ahead of Dasara to earn money by cashing in on the tradition.
Acting on a tip-off received by the call centre of the wildlife crime control cell, forest officials rushed to the spot and rescued the bird in a dehydrated condition.
They noticed the cage was hanging to the roof of the pandal. When questioned, the organisers said that some persons had left it at the pandal.