A month ago, the Forest Department officials received information that a woman at Puliyakulam in the city was keeping Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), a protected species under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as pet.
She was in tears when the Forest staff seized the bird that she nurtured over a period of three years.
“The woman was not aware that the bird was protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. Same is the case with many people who keep parakeets or munias as pet. The woman handed over the bird to us after our staff explained about the illegality of confining parakeets in cage,” says District Forest Officer D. Venkatesh.
The bird is now sheltered at the parakeet transit aviary of the Forest Department on the premises of the DFO’s office and will be released when it gets accustomed to the new environment.
According to Forest Department officials, parakeets and munias top the list of protected species, sales of which is rampant across Tamil Nadu. With the Forest Department and non-governmental organisations monitoring illegal sale of protected species through pet stalls, the trade is often done in other ways.
On August 7, the Forest staff and volunteers from Animal Rescuers saved 29 Rose-ringed parakeets (21 female, six male and two chicks) that four people had kept for sale near Singanallur, Vellalore and Ramanathapuram. The birds’ flight feathers were clipped off and beaks were trimmed by the traders, who were selling a pair for ₹ 600. The rescued parakeets are currently sheltered by the Forest Department. It takes four to six months for the birds to have their new flight wings.
“We have rescued more than 5,000 parakeets in the last nine years with the help of the Forest Department and released them after rehabilitation. Of the 12 species of parakeets in India, we have rescued four species. Except Rose-ringed parakeet, others species rescued and rehabilitated by us such as Plum-headed parakeet, Alexandrine parakeet, Blue-winged parakeet and Vernal hanging parrot (Loriculus vernali) are listed under appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),” says Vinny R. Peter, director of community education with Animal Rescuers.
Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) and Red sand boa (Eryx johnii) are two other species most trafficked in Coimbatore region. While red sand boa is seen across Coimbatore, officials have foiled smuggling of Indian star tortoise from Anamalai and Aliyar. In July, the Forest Department staff attached to Pollachi range arrested five men who attempted to traffic Indian star tortoise and Red sand boa.
“Those engaged in the trafficking of sand boa and barn owl in Tamil Nadu were mostly hail from Kerala. Investigations found that they were also involved in cheating business such as the sale of iridium (rice puller). The trafficking of these species, believed to be used for occult practices, have come down in the region,” says Mr. Venkatesh.
Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata), which is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, is also hunted in the water bodies of Coimbatore for its meat.
Apart from the sale of living protected species, Coimbatore is also found as a transit location for the sale of wildlife articles. In November 2018, the Forest Department, wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic India and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) had arrested two men and seized two leopard teeth and two pieces of ivory weighing 5.10 kg from them. The articles were brought to Coimbatore from Kerala
According to A. Mathivanan, inspector with WCCB for southern region, Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) was facing the threat of trafficking in the region.
“Pangolins are hunted for its scales as in the case of Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) which is hunted for its horn. Pangolin scales have demand in foreign markets such as China. WCCB is engaged in preventing such trade,” he said.
Listed as endangered species in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Indian Pangolin is also protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.