~ This is the sting of an illegal bird market located just 100m from the Police HQs in Bhopal (M.P.) This weekly market flourishes at the cost of hapless songbirds, parrots, guinea pigs, ducks and rabbits, which are stuffed into metal cages directly under the blazing heat of the sun. ~ Some of these helpless creatures are visibly famished, others appear dazed, unconscious, close to death. All of them look up at prospective buyers with resignation. When one of them is selected by a customer, the bird seller roughly catches hold of the bird -- now trying to flap its wings, thatve been cut off or rendered weak because of disuse -- takes it out from its tight prison and pushes it into another, newer one. The birds mate in his/her miserable home just looks on desolately or starts rolling on the floor of the cage as if in mourning or simply looks away.... ~ The customer, happy with his purchase, gloats in front of other humans as if hes just won a trophy and then speeds away with the caged bird/animal... born to suffer incredible, indescribable human cruelty. ~ Under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972, it is illegal to catch, keep, kill, buy/sell birds or damage their nests. But then, laws look great on paper, are meant to be learnt by rote and repeated in crowded courtrooms. Laws are only imposed on those who follow them. ~ The bird sellers of Bhopal are certainly not them. The authorities are hand-in-glove with these sellers, who snatch the birds eggs from their nests, trap and poach them -- all for a few soiled notes. ~ Its a crime to both SELL and BUY birds in India. Next time you see winged creatures being sold, trapped, confined or ill-treated, atleast RAISE YOUR VOICE. ~ BOYCOTT BIRD SELLERS ~ DONT BUY CAGED BIRDS ~ PLANT TREES AND GROW FLOWERS and the birds will flock to your patio or garden ~ Its THE LEAST WE CAN DO for these beautiful, hapless birds ==================================================== THE LAW -- Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 -- and WHAT IT SAYS ~ LINK: lmveg/laws-related-to-animal-rights/ •Birds are covered under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 making it illegal to catch, keep, kill, buy / sell birds or damage their nests. •All indigenous bird species are covered under this Act. •Trade in foreign birds is restricted by CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species). •There is an international protocol to which India is a signatory which assures full protection to all migratory species, making it illegal to trap, capture, keep, kill or trade these birds. •Parrots are not indigenous to India. The green birds that we mistakenly refer to as parrots are actually parakeets. It is illegal to keep them in cages. So called fortune tellers often use these birds. The punishment is a fine and up to 5 years in jail. ======================================================== I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS ~ I know why the caged bird sings... When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore, When he beats his bars and would be free. ~ It is not a carol of joy or glee But a prayer that he sends from his hearts deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings – I know why the caged bird sings... ~ Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 10:22:42 +0000
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