SUO MOTO NOTICE FOR ILLEGAL TRADE OF ENDANGERED BIRD

SUO MOTO NOTICE FOR ILLEGAL TRADE OF ENDANGERED BIRD

6^TH DECEMBER 2020

The Hon’ble Calcutta High Court took suo moto cognizance of the illegal trade of endangered species of birds, especially during winter, based on a newspaper report.

The division bench of the Hon’ble High Court was informed that endangered birds like Tia, Moyna, Chandana, and Pahari Moyna are smuggled from North Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and are traded in Kolkata and Delhi, especially during winter.

The trade-in exotic bird species not indigenous to the country is not banned. In contrast, sale, purchase, or keeping in captivity of Indian birds is illegal under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The Court also directed that several officers related to forests and wildlife conservation are impleaded as respondents in the proceedings.

The High court further observed that migrating birds know no territorial limits, and they would fly to better pastures depending upon the change of
climate, availability of food, and various other reasons, including for their existence, procreation, etc