New Delhi: In a major crackdown on illegal wildlife trade, over 100 protected birds and reptiles were rescued from a pet shop in Moti Nagar, west Delhi, during a coordinated raid involving the forest department, Delhi Police and local animal lovers.The rescued species included 54 birds and 49 reptiles. They included 52 rose-ringed parakeets, two Alexandrine parakeets, three Indian star tortoises, two Indian flapshell turtles, three Indian tent turtles, 28 Indian roofed turtles and 13 black-spotted pond turtles.An FIR was registered under Sections 9, 39 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. “It was a major seizure with many species of birds and reptiles rescued,” said an official.Punjab-based environmentalist Sahil Sharma said he had received several online complaints regarding alleged illegal wildlife trading in the area. “After gathering credible information about the presence of protected animals at the shop, I travelled from Punjab to Delhi to coordinate the raid with authorities and other animal lovers,” he said.
