The Border Security Force seized rare African grey parrots worth nearly Rs.10 lakh while they were being smuggled from Bangladesh into West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, an officer said on Monday.
The seizure was made on Sunday night during a special operation by BSF's 40th battalion in the district.
"A BSF ambush challenged bike borne smugglers who were carrying the birds in two cages. While they managed to escape using darkness, they left behind the cages," a BSF officer said.
The troopers recovered 30 African grey and Amazon parrots worth Rs.9.50 lakh in the international market.
The seized birds were handed over to the forest department. The BSF has seized more than 90 African grey and Amazon parrots valued over Rs.36 lakh in south Bengal, so far, this year.