Coimbatore: Forest officials, with the help of a non-governmental organisation involved in ecological conservation, rescued 350 bird belonging to the Finch Munia family from a platform vendor on Brooke Bond Road here on Tuesday.

They were released into the jungles at Anaikatti on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday morning.

Coimbatore District Forest Project and Environment Protection Society (CDFPEPS) president N.I. Jalaluddin came across the vendor selling a pair of the small-sized colourful birds for Rs.100-Rs.125 and two pairs for Rs.150-Rs.200.

On being alerted, senior research scientist P. Balasubramanian of the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and History informed District Forest Officer I. Anwardeen who deputed a team of officials to the scene.

When the team arrived at the scene, the vendors took to their heels.

The officials seized the birds in huge baskets and cages and took them to the District Forest Office nursery. Forest Veterinarian N.S. Manoharan examined the birds.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the birds were captured from places close to Salem, Dharmapuri and along the Tamil Nadu - Andhra Pradesh border. Mr. Anwardeen said he had already alerted his counterparts in Salem and Dharmapuri areas about the gang.

The pleasant chirping and whistling sound of the birds had created a demand for their captive breeding.The seized birds were identified as Spotted Munia, Black Headed Munia or White Packed Munia, all belonging to the Finch Munia family.

These birds are commonly sighted in thick vegetation in areas abutting hills. They are not migratory or foreign birds but commonly found in India. They are Scheduled Birds under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, forest officials said.

In July this year, Forest officials had seized similar birds from another vendor.

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