Altogether 750 parrots and 16 hill mynahs were rescued from a small truck in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district, a forest department official said on Wednesday.
Two persons were arrested in this connection, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Bardhaman, Debashish Sharma, said.
Acting on a tip-off, personnel of the forest range offices of Durgapur and Panagarh in the district stopped the small truck near Galsi on National Highway 2 after a chase on Tuesday night.
The DFO said that the birds were being transported from Patna to someone in north Kolkata's Gallif Street where a large pet market is operated on Sundays.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act, keeping wild birds as pets is illegal.
The vehicle, along with the birds, was taken to Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary in Bardhaman, Mr Sharma said.
The rescued birds will be set free after getting the court's permission, the officer said.
At Key Party Meet, West Bengal BJP Leaders Seek Demand Accountability Amid Electoral Setback West Bengal Forms Seven-Member Panel To Review New Criminal Laws Former Sikkim Minister's Body Found In West Bengal Canal Woman Dies, Many Feared Trapped After Portion Of Mumbai Building Collapses The 'Fake' CrowdStrike Worker Who Crippled Windows Users Worldwide On Sonu Sood's Post About Kanwar Yatra Order, Kangana Ranaut's Rejoinder On Sonu Sood's Post About Kanwar Yatra Order, Kangana Ranaut's Rejoinder Salma Hayek Is A Garden Full Of Daisies Summed In A Dress Dutch Content Creator Finds Hotel Room For $1.4 In Pak, Internet Reacts Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.