Senegal ParrotsGEORGE TOWN: The state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) foiled an attempt by a pet shop owner to smuggle in 45 rare protected birds species from Senegal, Africa, via the Penang International Airport.

Known as Senegal Parrot, the birds valued at RM70,200 were found in a carton box inside an air freight cargo. It was the first such bird species seizure uncovered by the department at the airport.

A department spokesman said its officers noted discrepancy between the import permit and documents belonging to a 50-year-old owner during a routine surveillance last Thursday.

"We found something amiss after the serial number from the permit did not match those on the documents. Upon checking, we  found the birds in the box," he said, adding that the market value for the birds were about RM1,500 each.

He said  the pet shop owner intended to sell the birds at a profit.

He added that  the import of such birds was an infringement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

The spokesman said the birds seized had been kept at the Perhilitan office in Jalan Gurdwara here.