Odisha YouTuber Arrested For ‘Torturing’, Uploading Videos Of Parrots

Keonjhar: Keeping parrots in captivity and uploading videos on YouTube proved costy for a youth of Odisha’s Keonjhar district as he was arrested for allegedly violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The 25-year-old YouTuber was identified as Chinmay Mahanta of Kumudi village under Bansapal Block in the district.

According to sources, Chinmay had uploaded some videos on his YouTube channel showing how to teach a parrot. In the video, he was seen teaching a parrot of Alexandrine parakeet specis.

The action against the YouTuber was launched following a complaint by Honorary Wildlife Warden of Khurda Subhendu Mallik to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife).

Following an order from the PCCF, Chinmay was arrested under relevant sections of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

In an email to PCCF-Wildlife and Chief Wildlife Warden of Odisha,  Subhendu Mallik had accused Chinmay of torturing and hunting Alexandrine parakeets.

Mallik accused Mahanta of keeping the birds under captivity, torturing them, and uploading the hunting videos on his YouTube channel for commercial gain. The videos are posted from a channel named ‘Chinmay Vai’, he said.

Numerous videos were posted on the channel with hunted parakeets, and all the videos provide prima facie evidence of a non-bailable wildlife offense that warrants the immediate arrest of Chinmay, he claimed.

The videos uploaded on YouTube by the youth using hunted parakeets provide sufficient ground for taking strict action against him, Mallik claimed.