Following complaints received on social media and through phone calls, officials of Forest Department and TNWCCB went to Robo Shankar’s house on Thursday and seized two parrots and kept them in a closed enclosure in Guindi National Park. Officials said that soon they will be sent to the forest. However, a forest department official revealed that Robo Shankar did not know that it is illegal to breed and cage these parrots. Therefore, he was fined Rs 2.5 lakh.. Robo Shankar agreed to pay that amount, he said.
However, Robo Shankar, who appeared before the forest officials on Monday, said that his wife’s friend had given these parrots three years ago. He said that it is illegal to grow them and he needs to take permission from the forest department but he does not know. Hence, the authorities have imposed a fine and let it go. Whereas, once parrots were a part of human life. They used to do business on these. Like normal birds, they are kept in houses. However, due to the extinction of parrots, it was included in the Wildlife Protection Act. A forest official said that many celebrities are still keeping them in cages without knowing this. Widespread awareness programs should be undertaken in the state in this regard.
