The car had started from Basirhat at 7.30am and was racing down the highway when it was stopped near Bhojerhat. The animals, smuggled into India from across the Bangladesh border, were found in the boot of the car. The birds, including 15 rosellas that are native to Australia and New Zealand, were cooped up in small cages. According to an officer of the forest department, hoolock gibbons and civets are illegally kept as pets and also used in circuses. The rescued birds included a pair of Nandy parakeets, two peach-fronted conures, 17 grass parakeets and four maroon-tailed conures.

Source: The Telegraph May 31, 2018 20:15 UTC