Parakeet rescued from inside Parliament

Indian Express

16-05-2025

A young rose-ringed Parakeet found its way into the Parliament complex on Friday. The bird, disoriented and unable to fly, was rescued by a team of wildlife enthusiasts. The security personnel alerted Wildlife SOS, a wildlife conservation non-profit, which sent its rapid response team to the spot.
The bird was found sitting still and exposed, at the risk of injury. Veterinarians assessed the parakeet and found it was suffering from heat stress, which had left it weak and temporarily unable to fly.
'It is currently under close observation and receiving supportive medication to aid its recovery,' said the rescue team. 'A parakeet in Parliament may seem unusual, but it highlights how closely human spaces overlap with wild ones. Every call matters — whether from a city lane or significant institutions,' said Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS.
The species is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, due to which it is illegal for sale or to be kept as a pet in India. However, in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list, it is listed as least concern. The bird species is native to Africa and South Asian regions, as per experts. The species, which is a common captive bird, is illegal to be caged as it is a native Indian bird which enjoys protection through the Wildlife Protection Act.
Geeta Seshamani, co-founder and secretary of the organisation, added, 'It's amazing how even in the heart of our most guarded and urban spaces, a small bird can remind us of the wild lives we share this country with.'
The team carefully captured the parakeet, placing it in a ventilated box designed to protect it from potential injuries or attacks from other animals in the vicinity. The bird was transported to the Wildlife SOS transit facility, for observation and supportive care. The team made sure that the bird remained protected from injuries or attacks by other birds or mammals in the area. It also said in a statement, Friday, 'The species' popularity as a pet and unpopularity with farmers have reduced their numbers in some parts of its native range, and remain major threats to the bird.'
'Our team ensured the rescue was swift and stress-free for the bird,' said Suvidha Bhatnagar, Director of Communications at Wildlife SOS. 'It's currently recuperating well, and we are hopeful it will soon be ready to return to the skies.'
Once the parakeet is deemed fit to fly, it will be released into a suitable green space where it can thrive naturally, the team said.
'We have had more than 30 such heat-related bird rescue cases that took place since temperatures started increasing. This mostly happens due to exhaustion or heat stroke, causing dehydration,' said Neel Banerjee, communications officer at Wildlife SOS.
Regarding the protocol to rescue bird species, Banerjee added, 'If a bird is found unable to fly or is disoriented, the rescuer first provides drinking water on site to rehydrate the bird.' The bird is later taken to the vet for a health assessment and kept under observation for a minimum of 1-2 days. The birds are then released upon recovery after adequate water and nourishment.
'Black kite, which are birds of prey, are one of the biggest victims of excess heat as they fly at high altitudes. They are vulnerable particularly to the scorching sun because they do this on a daily basis in search of prey.,' said Banerjee.