Just recently, a PETA activist rescued 10 parrots from a roadside seller. The sight of the bright green, rose-ringed parrots stuffed into cages barely the sizes of their bodies was enough to tear at even the hardest of hearts. In one cage, two parrots were crammed together so that they couldnŐt move without trampling each other. A rotting slice of guava was a poor excuse for food in one of the cages, and of course, there was no water.

The activist took the vendor to the local police station and booked a case against the parrot seller, and the parrots found their way to the PETA office, where they were first taken to a vet. The vet was not at all happy with their condition. He said that three of them needed vitamins and additional care. As for the rest, he said they had spent so much time in small cages that he suspected they may have forgotten how to fly. He prescribed bigger enclosures with a lot of space for them to try to fly and swoop around. They would be released only once they were adept at flying. The next day, they were sent to a rehabilitation centre in Pune to get the proper care that they need. Once they are able to regain their strength, they will be set free to fly off and lead a normal life in the forests around the centre.

These parrots will soon enjoy their freedom. But there are countless other birds who continue to languish in pet shops and people's homes after having been cruelly taken from their nests and having had their wings clipped.

Not many people are aware that the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 bans the trapping and trading of all birds in India. In spite of this, there is a flourishing illegal bird trade. To learn more about the laws protecting birds in India, click here.

Although it is easy to shake your head and say, 'Tch, tch, what is the world coming to?' it is easy to help, too.

If you see a parrot seller, do not turn your head and walk away. Instead, take the person to the local police station, and file a complaint under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. To read the act, click here. Call your local animal shelter/wildlife authorities and insist that they pick up the birds and rehabilitate them.

If you already have a bird at home and donŐt know how to care for him or her, click here to learn more. Or contact PETA for more information.

Remember, a bird's home is in the treetops and not in a cage. Join us and let the birds fly free.