• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a wildlife smuggling syndicate with seizure of a consignment of exotic macaws which had been smuggled from Bangladesh to Kolkata.

• The exotic birds were identified as Hyacinth macaw, Pesquet’s parrot, Severe macaw and Hahn’s macaw.

About:

• It is commonly called as Macaws.

• The Scientific name is Psittacidae.

• Macaws are beautiful, brilliantly colored members of the parrot family.

• Macaws are native to Central America and North America (only Mexico), South America, and formerly the Caribbean. Most species are associated with forests, especially rainforests, but others prefer woodland or savannah-like habitats.

• There are at least 17 species of macaws, and several are endangered. The glaucous macaw and Spix’s macaw may already be extinct in the wild.

• The macaws are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with Hyacinth macaw being accorded the highest protection.

Several seizures:

• Over the recent years, the DRI has seized a range of endangered species, including black-and-white ruffed lemur, hoolock gibbons, palm civets and Indian star tortoises; and exotic birds, including rosellas, nandin conures, peach-fronted conures, grass parakeets and maroon-tailed conures.

• Syndicates smuggling macaws, pygmy falcons, mandarin ducks, kookaburras (kingfishers), java sparrows, star finches, Gouldian finches, cockatiels and aracaris have also been busted.

• Another major concern has been the smuggling of elephant tusks and ivory products. About 65.33 kg of elephant tusks, tiger teeth and ivory articles have been seized by the agency in six recent cases.