LUCKNOW, March 29 -- The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted a wildlife trafficking racket and arrested a man with 803 protected parakeets in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district, officials said.

The accused, identified as Shivam of Kanshiram Colony in Sitapur's Khairabad area, was arrested on Saturday from Shanti Nagar locality under Khairabad police station following specific intelligence inputs about illegal trade in protected bird species.

Acting on the tip-off, STF teams launched an operation and intercepted the accused, recovering eight cages and seven sacks in which 803 live parrots-identified as rose-ringed parakeets-had been crammed for transportation and sale.

Officials said the action was carried out under the supe...