Gurgaon: An Alexandrine parakeet, a protected native bird species, was rescued by the wildlife department from a residence in Nirvana Country on Tuesday after animal welfare activists alerted authorities.Wildlife activist Vaishali Rana Chandra said she received information that the bird was being kept in a cage at a house in Deerwood Chase, Nirvana Country, and informed the forest department. “The bird was confined in a cage and kept outdoors for several hours. We alerted the wildlife department and requested intervention,” Rana said.Following the complaint, a wildlife team visited the residence and took custody of the bird. It was shifted for observation and examination.DFO (wildlife) R K Jhagra said the resident told officials that the parakeet had landed on the rooftop of their house and was subsequently caught and brought indoors.Jhagra confirmed that the Alexandrine parakeet is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. “The bird has been rescued and is under observation. A decision on its release will be taken after assessing its health and condition. A penalty of around Rs 5,500 will be imposed on the resident,” he said.Wildlife officials said the bird may be released in the Sultanpur area after veterinary examination and observation, if found fit for survival in the wild.The Alexandrine parakeet is among India’s largest parakeet species and is identified by its large red beak, long tail and the distinctive maroon patch on its wings. Though commonly found across parts of the Indian subcontinent, it faces threats from illegal trapping and the pet trade.The incident has once again highlighted the continued illegal captivity of native parakeet species despite legal protections and repeated awareness campaigns by wildlife authorities. Officials reiterated that native parakeet species cannot be kept in captivity without authorisation and urged residents to inform the forest department if a wild bird enters their premises instead of attempting to keep it.
