30 June,2014 08:43 AM IST | | Neha LM Tripathi
Three emerald doves were rescued by the Thane Forest Department; shop owner claims he is a bird lover, wanted to keep them close to him
The three emerald doves had been put up for sale by the aquarium shop owner at Vasai
After receiving a tip from a bird lover, the territorial range of Thane Forest Department (TFD) rescued three sub-adult emerald doves from an aquarium shop in Vasai.
The three emerald doves had been put up for sale by the aquarium shop owner at Vasai
Kuldeep Chaudhary, a bird lover, was informed on Thursday that three emerald doves were on sale in the aquarium shop, My Hobby, opposite Vasai bus depot. After visiting the shop to confirm, he called the forest department, which reached the spot and seized the birds.
The shop owner, Vijay CMK, however, claimed that the birds were not for sale and he had kept them at the shop because he was a bird lover himself. "The owner asserted that he was bird lover and had purchased the three doves from Colaba three months back.
However, if he was a bird lover, why would he put them on display at his aquarium shop? He had also harmed the wings of the birds, making it difficult for them to fly," said Chaudhary. Emerald doves are listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and cannot be traded. The birds are currently recuperating with the wildlife warden, and will be released into the wild after treatment.
Sub Divisional Forest Officer (Mandvi), SV Deshpande, however said that the birds have not been harmed, "According to the information on record, the birds are in good condition. We have asked the owner to produce papers of the birds. If he cannot do the same by Monday, we will take action against him."
