Hyderabad: A routine dog vaccination drive on the Osmania University (OU) campus took an unexpected turn on Monday when animal welfare volunteers came across a rose-ringed parakeet, its wings clipped and confined to a tiny cage, allegedly being used for fortune-telling near Arts College.The bird was spotted by volunteers from Citizens for Animals during the vaccination drive. On closer inspection, they found the protected native species being kept in illegal captivity. The team alerted the OU police, who informed the forest department’s anti-poaching squad. The parakeet was subsequently rescued and handed over to the forest department for rehabilitation.“The parakeet showed visible signs of distress and had its wings clipped, rendering it unable to fly and preventing it from escaping. We immediately alerted the police, who coordinated with the forest department to ensure the bird was rescued safely,” said Prithvi Paneru of Citizens for Animals.According to Citizens for Animals, the man in possession of the bird told rescuers that fortune-telling with parrots had been practised by his family for generations and was his only source of livelihood. He apologised, saying he was unaware that keeping a native parakeet in captivity was illegal. Volunteers counselled him on wildlife laws and the importance of protecting native bird species before handing the matter over to forest officials.The forest department will determine the action to be taken against the accused under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The rose-ringed parakeet is a protected species listed under Schedule II of the Act, making its capture, trade, captivity, or use for commercial activities, including fortune-telling, illegal. Violations can attract imprisonment of three to seven years and a fine of at least ₹25,000, with higher penalties applicable in certain cases under the amended Act.
