Owl smuggling is on the rise along the Indo- Bangladesh border. These nocturnal birds are in demand for their eyeballs which are supposed to have high medicinal value. This illegal trade came to light recently when the BSF officials seized one such consignment in Murshidabad. In Kacharipara, Sarkarpara and Gopalpur ghat areas in Nadia and Jalangi in Murshidabad owl-trapping has become almost a cottage industry.

On learning about this cruel trade, PETA immediately wrote to the Chairman of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau-Ministry of Environment and Forests asking him to immediately issue directions to forest officials to prevent poaching, and also initiate appropriate educational programmes to bring in awareness amongst people to protect this hapless species.

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PETA India focuses primarily on the areas in which the greatest numbers of animals suffer the most: in the food and leather industries, laboratories and the entertainment industry. PETA India’s investigative work, public education efforts, research, animal rescues, legislative work, special events, celebrity involvement and national media coverage have resulted in countless improvements to the quality of life for animals and have saved countless animals’ lives.