Pet lovers plump for exotic birds in city

Bhubaneswar: Many pet lovers in the city are choosing exotic birds over traditional choices like dogs and cats due to lack of proper space in apartments.Om Prakash Maharana, a pet lover, explained why he chose exotic birds over dogs. "Maintaining a dog is difficult in the twin cities as they need more room to roam and exercise, which can be challenging in smaller houses and apartments. Taking dogs for daily walks and defecation is also a difficult task as no specific space is allotted for them. Barking, especially in densely populated areas, can disturb neighbours and lead to conflicts. So, I have chosen to keep exotic birds, which are also now easily available in the local market," said Maharana.Basanta Rout, who started selling exotic birds two years ago, believes it was a smart move. "I'm glad I chose to sell birds. I sell around 100 different species every month, and my customer base is steadily growing through word of mouth," he said.Another pet shop owner, Subhakant Pattanaik, said, "Prices range from Rs 300 to Rs 3,000 in the lower range, for birds like budgerigar, finch, lovebirds and Java sparrow. In the medium range, prices are between Rs 3,000 and Rs 50,000 for birds like conure, lorie and a few lovebirds. In the premium range, costing over Rs 50,000, birds such as macaw, cockatoo and some conure species are available."Local veterinarian Biswadeep Jena said exotic birds are relatively easier to care for in a urban setting. "Regular cleaning of cages, fresh water, appropriate feed and occasional health check-ups are required. Most bird species can live comfortably in controlled indoor temperatures common in modern apartments. But if they find any issue with their pet birds, they must consult a veterinarian," he said.