What You Can Do to Stop Cruelty to Birds

Tell owners of caged birds that it is not only cruel, but illegal, to confine animals meant to fly free, report them to your local animal-protection group and law-enforcement authorities and urge the authorities to confiscate the bird and prosecute the owner.

Contact local animal-protection groups about the possibility of releasing wild-caught caged birds. Always release birds in a wooded area that has a water source. Sprinkle plenty of birdseed on the ground to ease the transition.

Captive-raised birds who can’t survive if released may still be confiscated from owners who keep them illegally. Please read PETA’s factsheet for tips on caring for captive birds here.

If the bird’s wings have been clipped, she or he can still be taken out of the cage and given a degree of freedom within an enclosed, protected area. If the weather is mild, create an outdoor aviary by netting two small trees together. If their wings grow back, wild-caught birds should be released.

Report bird-sellers and fortune-tellers with caged birds to the local animal-protection group and law-enforcement authorities, and urge them to confiscate the birds and prosecute the offender. Click here for details.

If you learn of a ceremony in which birds are to be released, contact the organisers and inform them of the law. Also contact the local animal-protection group and the police.

Birds used in movies may be mistreated, injured or killed. Under the Censorship Rules, it is illegal to feature scenes that include needless cruelty to animals. Please click here for laws in India as they apply to animals used in film-making and to learn what you can do to help stop their suffering.