A campaign has been started against caging of birds and subsequent sale to devotees, who set them free later on.

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation, Khoryug, the Sikkim Anti-rabies and Animal Health Programme and police have jointly launched the campaign. The foundation is named after the renowned French actress.

Directions have been issued to Gaya police to keep a tab on bird sellers. According to sources, devotees usually release Indian robin, parrot, maina, eagle or pigeon.

Tashi Dorje from Darjeeling, who has been doing voluntary service for devotees taking part in the teachings by Ogyen Trinley Dorjee at Tergar monastery, said: 'We set the caged birds free. But on the flip side, free birds are captured and caged again.'

Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Nishant Kumar Tiwari said Dr Katherine from Bhutan contacted him for the campaign. 'On her request, we got posters printed that have been put up at different places in Bodhgaya. The poster states that sale of caged birds could lead to penalty of Rs 10,000 or a three-year term in jail,' he said.

Divisional forest officer, Gaya circle, Nesamani K. said: 'The forest department takes action against trafficking and sale of wild birds under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. In cases of pet birds, the civil administration or the police can take action.'

The SSP said the wild birds are trapped in forest areas and brought to Bodhgaya in cages. Devotees then pay for the birds to be released. Usually, these birds die, either because they are no longer in their natural habitat or they are hurt during the capture.

'The campaign aims to stop this practice by making people aware,' he said.