Pune Forest Department Cracks Down On Alexandrine Parakeet Trafficking, Rescues Four Protected Birds From Kausarbaug
Pune Forest Department Cracks Down On Alexandrine Parakeet Trafficking, Rescues Four Protected Birds From Kausarbaug
Pune, January 13, 2026: The Pune Forest Department has carried out a decisive action against wildlife traffickers involved in the illegal possession of Alexandrine Parakeets (locally known as Pahadi Popat).
On 11/01/2026, during further investigation of Forest Offence Case registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest Department received specific intelligence. Acting on this information and under the guidance of Ashish Thackeray, Conservator of Forests (Territorial), Pune; Mahadev Mohite, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune; and Vishal Chavan, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Pune, a planned operation was conducted by a team led by Range Forest Officer Suresh Varak.
The team carried out a raid in Pune city’s Kondhwa area, specifically at Kausarbaug, Aai Mata Mandir, and Maliknagar. During the operation, four Alexandrine Parakeets that were being illegally kept illegally were seized. The rescued birds have been sent to the Transit Treatment Centre, Bavdhan, for care and rehabilitation.
The seized Alexandrine Parakeets fall under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and are classified as rare and protected species. Possession of indigenous and hill parakeet species without authorization constitutes a forest offence under the Act. Further investigation in the case is currently underway.
The Forest Department has appealed to citizens to report any information related to illegal trade, possession, or harm to wild animals or birds by contacting the Forest Department’s toll-free helpline number 1926.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of the senior forest officials mentioned above and led by Range Forest Officer Shri Suresh Varak, with the participation of Forest Guards Sheetal Khendke and Ram Rupnavar; Forest Watchers Ashok Gaikwad, Balasaheb Jivde, Anil Rathod, Rajkumar Jadhav, Ankush Kachare, Yogesh Jadhav; and Priya Aaken.
