Dozens of wild parrots captured illegally and raised by poachers in residential homes have been released by authorities in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, southwest China.

Local forest police launched an inspection to rescue the parrots after receiving information regarding illegal bird hunting near the prefecture's Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve, 

The 71 parrots were later identified as gray-headed parakeets, a native species of Xishuangbanna under second-class state protection in China. Despite being a common species in southeast Asia, they are relatively rare in China.

All the birds were confirmed to be in good health and were released into the wild on July 2. 

(Cover image via screenshot.)

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