Tamil Nadu   

Campaign to save wild birds from pet-lovers

By M. Dinesh Varma

CHENNAI, MAY 1 . Southern black-headed `munia' birds, which inhabit marshland and grass fields, are facing a new threat — amateur pet-lovers raising them in cages.

The other wild species that is falling prey to the growing fancy for pets is spotted `munia'. These birds throng marshlands, reed-beds, grass fields, adjoining areas of agricultural land and forest peripheries.

Once the wild birds are removed from their natural habitat and condemned to cage life, they do not survive for long.

The Trust for Environment Monitoring and Action Intiating (EMAI), a city-based non-governmental organisation, opposes taming wild birds.

It says the birds feel traumatised when they are removed from their natural habitat and put into cages. Moreover, not all pet lovers are good at raising birds.

The EMAI has urged the public to desist from buying these birds. According to activists, it is the demand at pet shops that encourages people to capture more birds.

The birds are common at Anna Nagar and Choolaimedu pet shops. They are sold at Rs. 40 a pair. Most are painted in bright colours, commonly red and green, to add to their charm.

Birds released

Recently, the EMAI released 40 birds of southern black-headed munia or the `Lonchura mollacca malacca' on the occasion of Earth Day observance.

The birds, which feed on grass seeds, grain and rice, were bought from pet shops and released into the wild off the city limits. Another 10 birds were returned to their natural habitat.

The organisation, earlier, gave a fresh lease of life to 50 pairs, releasing them into the pastoral land beyond Sriperumbudur.

It plans to hold awareness programmes for pet-lovers to discourage them from adopting the birds as pets.

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