Metro India News | Hyderabad 

As Dussehra draws near, Telangana’s state bird, the Indian Roller (locally known as Palapitta), faces heightened risks from superstitious practices. Many believe that seeing or handling the bird during the festival brings good luck or absolves sins, leading to illegal capture, caging, wing clipping, binding, and even gluing to prevent flight. Such practices often result in severe stress, injury, or death.

Soudharm Bhandari, Coordinator of the Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GHSPCA), said, “Every year, our volunteers rescue Indian Rollers subjected to cruelty during Dussehra. We carefully remove bindings, cages, and glue under veterinary supervision, and release healthy birds back into suitable habitats. We also have contacts with temples and emergency teams across the city, so we can track and rescue birds promptly. If such practices continue unchecked, it could lead to the extinction of this species.”

GHSPCA has recorded rescues over the past six years: 3 birds in 2019, 5 in 2020, 11 in 2021, 8 in 2022, 8 in 2023, and 9 in 2024, totaling 44 birds. Other NGOs have also rescued many birds over the years.

Recent surveys highlight the urgent conservation concern. The State of India’s Birds 2023 report found that the Indian Roller population declined by 30 per cent and recommended its reassessment for the IUCN Red List. The Hyderabad Bird Atlas recorded only 26 sightings in February 2025 and just four in August 2025 out of over 70,000 birds of 195 species surveyed, indicating alarmingly low numbers in the city.

Authorities and citizens are urged to report any Indian Rollers being held in cages or displayed during Dussehra to 9394578568 or 8886743881. Such acts are illegal under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and collective action is essential to protect Telangana’s state bird and ensure its survival in the wild.