28 birds rescued from captivity released after treatment in Nilgris

Twenty-eight birds from six species rescued from captivity and found injured and treated or rehabilitated were released at the Botanical Garden on the Forest Campus on Friday. The birds released by the District Forest Officer (DFO) N Satheesh included 20 Rose Ringed Parakeets, four Peafowl, a Plum Headed Parakeet, a Pariah Kite, a Brahminy Kite and a Blur Rock Pigeon.

Satheesh told DT Next that since January 2017, as many as 128 birds from 27 species have been rescued and released. About the birds released on Friday, he said that the parakeets were rescued from people illegally trading in birds at a few places in Coimbatore about three months ago when they were just two weeks old. “The birds did not have fully grown feathers and the beaks of most of them were clipped,” he added. 

They were treated by the Forest Department with the help of Animal Rescuers, an NGO, at the Parakeet Aviary at the District Forest Office premises. “Five more Alexandrian Parakeets that were treated are also ready for release. Since they don’t have a conducive environment in this region they will be taken to Hosur and released soon. Orders to release Alexandrian Parakeets were passed on Friday,” he added. 

“Among the eight other birds released on Friday was a peafowl that suffered a fracture, while seven other birds, including the owls, were rescued by residents and forest department staff,” Joseph Reginald of Animal Rescuers said. He observed that parakeets take the longest recovery time as they are subjected to cruelty.  Reginald said that more than 50 other birds are getting treated at the aviary and they would soon be fit for release.