In a powerful effort to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, forest officers in Odisha, India, together with Earth Crusaders, have successfully rescued 122 Alexandrine Parakeet chicks in two separate confiscations from the illegal pet trade.Â
The first operation began with a tip-off that led to a sting, where officers intercepted an offender transporting 10 parakeets on a motorcycle en route to a bus stop. Upon further investigation, authorities uncovered an additional 72 parakeets hidden in a rented house.
Just days later, in a second confiscation, forest department officers seized 40 more parakeet chicks from another poacher.
These rescues follow a initiative led by Earth Crusaders, recipients of the World Parrot Trust and Natural Encounters Conservation Fund 2023 grant. This program, the first of its kind in Odisha, has trained over 165 frontline forest staff across 18 districts to combat the illegal wildlife trade of Alexandrine Parakeets, resulting in the interception of over 300 parakeets in the past year alone. Through their continued efforts, forest officers are disrupting trafficking networks and saving these vulnerable birds from a grim fate.
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Thanks to this program, the rescued parakeets are now safe, with ongoing investigations to prevent further exploitation. A huge congratulations to all involved in making this remarkable achievement possible.Â
