Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Delhi: 863 Animals and Birds Rescued in Wildlife Trade Raid
In a busy market in Delhi, India, called Kabootar Market, the police and some animal helpers found many birds and animals locked in cages.
There were 863 birds and animals in total.
Many of the birds are protected, which means the law says they cannot be sold.
Some of the rescued birds were parakeets and muniya birds.
The animals were living in small, crowded and dirty cages, which is not fair to them.
The helpers rescued all of them and took them somewhere safe to be cared for.
Five people who run pet shops in the market were identified, and a police case was filed against them.
The police asked them where they got the animals from.
Now the police are trying to find out how the illegal animal trade worked.
A joint raid by Delhi Police's Central District, People For Animals (PFA), World Wide Animal and Delhi's Forest and Wildlife Department rescued 863 animals and birds from Kabootar Market in New Delhi.
Five pet shops in Kabootar Market, Jama Masjid, were inspected after PFA received information on August 9 about the alleged illegal sale and confinement of protected animals and birds.
The rescue included 431 protected/scheduled birds - 183 Ring-necked Parakeets, 72 Plum-headed Parakeets, 63 Alexandrine Parakeets and 113 Muniya birds - plus 18 guinea pigs, nine grey squirrels, 41 white mice and 11 rabbits.
Many birds and animals were found confined in overcrowded, unhygienic cages; protected birds were seized by wildlife authorities while other rescued animals were taken into appropriate care.
FIR No. 432/2026 was registered at Police Station Jama Masjid against five identified persons (Iqbal Khan, Akash, Kani Ram, Mohd. Adil Khan and Rashid Khan), with the supply chain still under investigation.
- Who
- A joint team of Delhi Police's Central District (Police Station Jama Masjid), People For Animals (PFA), World Wide Animal and Delhi's Forest and Wildlife Department; five pet shop operators were identified as Iqbal Khan, Akash, Kani Ram, Mohd. Adil Khan and Rashid Khan.
- What
- A joint raid rescued 863 animals and birds, including 431 protected/scheduled birds, as part of an action against the alleged illegal wildlife trade.
- When
- Information was received by PFA on August 9; FIR No. 432/2026 is dated August 10, 2026; the rescue was reported by officials on Wednesday (August 12, 2026).
- Where
- Kabootar Market, Jama Masjid area, New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To stop the alleged illegal sale, possession and unlawful confinement of protected birds and animals in pet shops.
- Animals rescued
- 863 birds and animals
- Protected/scheduled birds
- 431, including 183 Ring-necked Parakeets, 72 Plum-headed Parakeets, 63 Alexandrine Parakeets and 113 Muniya birds
- Other rescued animals
- 18 guinea pigs, 9 grey squirrels, 41 white mice, 11 rabbits
- Pet shops inspected
- 5
- Location
- Kabootar Market, Jama Masjid, New Delhi
- FIR number
- FIR No. 432/2026, dated 10.08.2026, Police Station Jama Masjid
- Laws invoked
- Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023
- Persons identified
- Iqbal Khan, Akash, Kani Ram, Mohd. Adil Khan, Rashid Khan
