Three detained for selling Alexandrine parakeets in Pune

The forest department officials caught three men on Sunday, March 31 for attempting to sell two Alexandrine parakeets, a species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Any sale, hunting, or rearing of these birds is prohibited by law. The individuals were detained for questioning, and a case has been registered against them. However, they were not immediately arrested due to the possibility of imprisonment for up to seven years upon conviction. Instead, they were released after serving a notice, with plans to file a chargesheet soon.

As per information, the forest officials received a tip-off about the sale through social media posts and conducted a sting operation, posing as potential buyers. Forest guard Krishna Hakke and range forest officer Pradip Sankpal led the operation, with Deputy Conservator of Forest Mahadev Mohite overseeing the team. Initially informed about one parrot for sale, they discovered a second parrot upon meeting the sellers, leading to the detention of the trio.

Authorities are now searching for a fourth person involved in selling the parrots.

The detained individuals are identified as Piyush Pasalkar (21), Yash Kangude (21), and Saurav Zore (19), residents of the Karve Nagar area. The forest department is investigating the source of the parrots and whether others are involved in the illegal trade.

The incident occurred near Lohia IT Park in the Kothrud area, where the suspects were caught red-handed. They face charges under the Wildlife Protection Act, and the forest department is determined to pursue the case rigorously.

Alexandrine parrots, locally known as ‘Pahadi Popat’ are a protected species, and possessing, selling, or hunting them is strictly prohibited. Authorities are committed to preserving wildlife and enforcing laws to combat illegal wildlife trade.