In a crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Delhi Forest Department raided a premises in the Jama Masjid market of old Delhi where over 700 wild birds were kept squashed in tiny wire cages. These smuggled birds were hidden to be sold to other traders.
It was an emergency situation after a late night call from the Deputy Conservator of Forests to Wildlife SOS came in, and a plan was set in motion. The Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit rushed with avian experts to help shift the rescued birds from cramped cages to provide them with adequate rest.
The raid, executed with precision, led to the seizure of over 730 birds including rose-ringed parakeet, alexandrine parakeet, plum-headed parakeet, black-headed munia and scaly-breasted munia. These birds, found crammed in deplorable conditions with no water or food, were swiftly taken into custody by the authorities.
Upon receiving information, the Delhi Forest Department had created a team and co-ordinated with the police. With their intervention, the forest department got access to the areas where the birds were kept. The operation was a success majorly because of the coordination between the various teams.
Following the rescue, Wildlife SOS took on the critical task of providing medical treatment, feeding, and rehabilitation for the distressed birds. The organisation’s experienced bird care team worked seamlessly to nurse them back to health, ensuring proper nutrition to the rescued avians. Subsequently, the birds were carefully released into a suitable natural habitat, marking a successful conclusion to a crucial rescue operation.
Parakeets and munias are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 that prohibits the capture and trade of indigenous birds in India. Keeping them in cages without room for flight violates Section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), 1960. Therefore, trading and owning these animals can draw strict punishment.
This was not the only instance this year where our team was involved in dedicatedly tackling illegal wildlife trade. In April 2024, in a case of animal exploitation, nine Indian grey langurs were successfully rescued by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department (UPFD) from Company Gardens in Agra. In the anti-poaching operation, the UPFD received a complaint about Indian grey langurs tied in a residential colony in Agra’s Sadar area.
On receiving information, the forest department busted and rescued the langur troop, which consisted of six females, two males and a baby.
The operation involved delicate sensitivity – since their captive state could have made them prone to aggression – as the team carefully removed the ropes from the langurs. The langurs were safely shifted in a transport carrier, and after obtaining permissions from the court, they were released in their natural habitat with assistance from Wildlife SOS.
Again in August 2024, following a prompt from a local resident, a langur was rescued after it was discovered tied by the neck to a tree in Agra. The combined team of Wildlife SOS and UPFD later worked together to release the distressed primate back into the wild.
Taking advantage of the age-old rivalry between grey langurs and rhesus macaques, poachers capture langurs from the wild so they can be trained to tackle the rising ‘monkey menace’ in various cities across India. However, it is a myth that encourages this practice even further.
The grey langur is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, making its trade illegal. Possession of wild animals such as langurs can invite necessary legal action, since capturing or keeping them in captivity is punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both. Under the PCA Act, the exhibition or training of monkeys as performing animals is banned too.
Whether it is birds such as parakeets or primates such as monkeys and langurs, wild animals are not meant to be kept as pets or subjects of amusement. Every species that exists in nature plays a natural and significant role in the ecological web. Moreover, human beings inherently do not have the right to snatch the freedom of other animals.
Keeping their safety in mind, our team works indefatigably to secure a dignified life for these distressed animals. But performing these operations is financially resource intensive and requires adequate manpower. Your contribution as an individual can make a difference in sustaining these difficult operations. If you become a monthly donor for Wildlife SOS, you will have a direct role to play in facilitating the independence of these animals.
