Around 30 Alexandrine parrots were rescued after a racket of illegal transporting was cracked down in Jammu on September 10.
Two smugglers, hailing from Punjab, were arrested while the search for a man who was to receive the consignment for illegal trade is on, wildlife warden, Jammu, Amit Sharma, confirmed. All 12 species of parakeets, including the Alexandrine, are protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
Acting on a tip-off, Sharma said a wildlife team intercepted a passenger bus, which had come from Punjab, on Sunday night near KC road in the heart of the city and recovered 30 Alexandrine parakeets kept in several cages.
The Alexandrine parakeet is listed as near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because of its steep population decline in its native range due to habitat loss, persecution and excessive capture to cater to the demands of the illegal wildlife trade.