Punjab sets Rs1,000 registration fee for keeping each parrot

The Punjab government has introduced a new law to regulate the keeping and trade of pet parrots, a step aimed at curbing illegal sales and safeguarding exotic species such as the Alexandrine Parakeet.

Under the legislation, Alexandrine, Rose-ringed, Slaty-headed, and Plum-headed parrots have been placed under a mandatory registration system and included in the second schedule.

A fee of Rs 1,000 will be charged for the registration of each parrot.

Parrot owners are now required to register as licensed breeders or dealers, with buying and selling permitted only through registered, licensed channels.

The law further divides breeders into two categories: small breeders, who keep and raise a limited number of parrots, and large breeders, who breed and trade parrots on a commercial scale.

Punjab Wildlife Department officials explained that the move is intended to protect rare and local parrot species, discourage smuggling, and integrate parrot breeding into a legal and traceable framework.

They stressed that the law has come into effect immediately and warned that violators will face legal consequences.

The initiative has been welcomed as a landmark measure for wildlife conservation in Punjab.

Experts believe it will not only help protect vulnerable parrot species but also promote responsible pet ownership and reduce the underground trade in exotic birds.