Birds as pets illegal - did you know?

It is illegal to keep a bird in captivity, said an MCD spokesman while elaborating on a proposed tax hike on pets from Rs.5 to Rs.500 that has drawn flak.

It is illegal to keep a bird in captivity, says the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) spokesman while elaborating on a proposed tax hike on pets from Rs.5 to Rs.500 that has drawn flak.

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"The question of taxing bird pets does not even arise as first you will have to legalise them to tax them," the MCD spokesman told IANS.

Birds are covered under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 making it illegal to catch, keep, kill, buy or sell birds or even damage their nests. The punishment is a fine and up to five years in jail.

And this applies all over the country. All indigenous bird species are covered under this act. The only exceptions are lovebirds and blue rock pigeons.

Pet owner Kenny Peter expressed utter surprise when told about the law. "Don't tell me I will have to keep Polly, my parakeet, in hiding," he said.

Anjana Raghunathan, who keeps a parakeet called Mithu Mia at home, said: "Mithu is a part of our family. I did not know it was illegal to keep birds at home.

"I can't possibly part with him now. Why don't the authorities go after those who sell these birds?"

Cutting the feathers of birds, which amounts to maiming them, is a cognisable offence under the Indian Penal Code Section 428/429. It is illegal to even show caged birds in ads, movies or serials.

It is also illegal to colour birds, something done by bird sellers regularly to make them look more attractive, as the chemical colours can be toxic.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species - an international protocol to which India is a signatory - assures full protection to all migratory species and restricts trade in foreign birds.