​Keeping THESE 5 birds as pets can take you to jail-- Here's why​

If you think your neighborhood parrot or munia would make a fabulous feathered friend, think again! While these colorful characters can brighten up just about any space, keeping some birds as pets can put you behind bars-- legally speaking. From illegal Indian parrots who’d rather be wild to the rare Macaw that needs to stay far away from the pet trade, there’s more to these birds than just their beautiful feathers. Let's take a look through five fabulous feathered friends you definitely shouldn’t adopt, no matter how charming they seem.

The Alexandrine Parakeet, also known as the ‘Pahadi Parrot’, is banned from private keeping and trade in India primarily due to its status as a protected wild bird under the Wildlife Protection Act. From habitat loss and illegal capture for the pet trade, to competition with other birds, their numbers are decreasing day by day. Its preferred habitats are diverse and include moist and dry forests, woodlands, and agricultural land; caging them at a corner of your verandah may look fun for you but what about them? The speciality of this species is that it can thrive in both natural setups and human-modified landscapes. But it’s never the same. Just like how our home and office can never feel the same, no matter how much one tries.

Owls naturally can’t see clearly during the daytime, which makes it easier for hunters to capture them-- but it's completely illegal to keep owls at home. In some cultures, the owl is believed to be a sign of financial growth, and the inclination toward owls partly comes from this belief.
However, owls are integral predators in maintaining ecological balance, controlling rodent populations, and preserving the health of ecosystems. This vulnerable bird is losing safe nesting spaces and is extremely sensitive to habitat changes. Due to their poor daytime vision, they often take shelter under household sheds, which becomes their ultimate mistake before getting caged.

The Hill Mynah, famous for its exceptional ability to mimic human speech, is in high demand. Someone mimicking your speaking style and repeating it right after you-something everybody would fall for-- right? However, this bird is classified as endangered and has been facing a severe decline in wild populations, mainly due to trapping and poaching for the pet trade. The number of Hill Mynahs is significantly decreasing, also due to habitat loss from deforestation.They are highly sought after in the illegal pet market, which indicates poaching and threatens their survival in the wild.

The Red munia, also known to some as the Strawberry Finch, are mostly known for their small, sparrow-like appearance. Their bright colours make them extremely captivating. Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, this bird is also illegal to keep as a pet.
The species is now protected to prevent decline due to poaching and the illegal pet trade, which threaten their populations. Once removed from their natural habitat, no matter how well-modified the human environment is, their well-being will always be compromised.

Under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 in India, it is illegal to capture, keep, buy, or sell Koels as pets. This large, long-tailed cuckoo is native to India and much of tropical southern Asia. The male Koel is glossy bluish-black with a pale greenish bill and crimson eyes; the female is brownish with white spots and stripes, and a greenish beak. The sweet voice we hear is mostly from the male Koel.
In addition to their melodious and loud calls, they are culturally significant and associated with the arrival of rains in many parts of India. Koels have also been celebrated in folklore and poetry.
These shy, wild birds and not suited for captivity at all.