The Hindu : Kerala News : Seized parakeets will fly to freedom

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 18, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Seized parakeets will fly to freedom

K.S. Sudhi

Kochi: When the green feathers grow back to their original size, probably in a fortnight, the parakeets will take off to freedom.

Leaving behind days of imprisonment in crammed cages at the hands of unscrupulous street vendors, 60 birds, illegally brought here from Tamil Nadu last week, will be released into the wild.

The forest officials plan to release them in batches into Kuttampuzha and Kodanad forests.

"The wings of most of the birds were clipped," says Deepak Misra, Deputy Conservator of Forest, territorial division of Malayattoor forest division.

The birds will be released depending on their health conditions.

Veterinarians of the department had examined them.

The department has also moved court for releasing the birds, now kept at the Animal Rescue Centre attached to the Kodanad Forest Range office, says Misra.

They are recovering from injuries sustained during the life in prison.

Crawling to freedom

A life of unrestricted freedom in the wild is awaiting the 690 star turtles kept at Kodanad.

They will soon crawl out to freedom in the Chinnar forest, which has an environment similar to their natural habitat.

Smuggling attempt

Authorities aborted an attempt to smuggle the turtles out of the country.

A few of them died at the rescue centre.

The change in the environment and the shock they suffered during the course of smuggling took their toll, Mr. Misra says.

The turtles are out of their habitat, most of them young. The department is waiting for clearance from the Chief Conservator of Forest for releasing them.

Close watch

At the rescue centre, the veterinarians are keeping a close watch on the turtles. They are being fed plants, carrot, cabbage and spinach.

Both the turtles and parakeets are included in Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Act, and their illegal possession will invite legal action, say officials.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala