11 rose ringed parakeets rescued from temple

Eleven rose ringed parakeets, an endangered species, held captive at a temple in Kovilpalayam on the outskirts of the city, were rescued today by a forest officer and environmental activists.
R G Sekar, Coimbatore Forest Range officer and four members of Environment Conservation Group rushed to the temple on getting information and noticed the birds kept in a cage.
The officer informed temple authorities that it was illegal to keep native birds in captivity, took them into his custody and later brought them to the forest wildlife rehabilitation centre here, department sources said.
Most of the birds, though healthy, had their wings clipped and were unable to fly, the sources said, adding that they would be rehabilitated and let free once fit.

Rose-ringed parakeets are listed under schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and it is illegal to buy, sell, trap or keep them as pets.