Ailing monkey, parakeets rescued from city apartment

Mumbai: An ailing monkey and three parakeets were rescued from a Mumbai apartment Thursday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the forest department. The parakeets’ wings and tails were severely worn while the monkey was ill and kept chained in a small cage. The rescued animals have been sent to the forest department’s facility. They will soon be transferred to an animal orphanage in Pune for rehabilitation. The woman who was residing in the apartment surrendered before the forest department.

Both parakeets and monkeys fall under protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

PETA said that the animals were found suffering from serious health issues. The monkey was obese from lack of exercise and an unnatural diet.

Meet Ashar, PETA India emergency response coordinator, said, “The unlawful custodian—an elderly woman in failing health—voluntarily surrendered the animals and after being warned of the legal consequences of illegally keeping protected wild animals, has pledged not to do so in future.”

“This incident is exactly why laws exist to protect wild animals from being held hostage in someone’s home, and it is imperative that humans heed these laws,” he said.

According to the forest department, keeping both these species in captivity,  is morally wrong and punishable.