India, Aug. 13 -- The Delhi Police, in coordination with animal welfare organisations and the forest and wildlife department, has rescued 863 birds and animals from five pet shops at the Kabootar Market in Jama Masjid area, police said on Wednesday. The operation was conducted following information from an animal welfare organisation regarding alleged illegal sale, possession and unlawful confinement of protected birds and animals at pet shops in the market. During the raid, five pet shops at Kabootar Market were systematically inspected, which revealed that birds and animals were confined in overcrowded, poor and unhygienic conditions, with several requiring immediate care, a senior police officer said. Also Read - Man sedated, electrocuted, & beaten to death in S Delhi Of the total 863 recovered animals and birds, 431 were prima facie identified as protected, banned or scheduled under wildlife laws. The protected or scheduled birds included 72 plum-headed parakeets, 183 rose-ringed parakeets, 63 Alexandrine parakeets and 113 'munias' (finches). "These birds were rescued by World Wide Animal in coordination with the forest and wildlife department," the officer said. Another 432 birds and animals were rescued from conditions amounting to cruelty and improper confinement. They included 148 budgerigars, 57 cockatiels, 96 lovebirds, 18 guinea pigs, nine grey squirrels, 41 white mice, 11 rabbits and 52 non-protected parakeets and other pet birds, he said. Police said a large number of birds and animals were found kept in cages, many of which were overcrowded and unhygienic. The recovered birds and animals were examined, identified and segregated with the assistance of wildlife welfare organisations. Wildlife authorities confiscated the protected birds, while animals needing care were handed to welfare organisations. Five persons were bound down, and an FIR was registered under wildlife, animal cruelty and BNS provisions.
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