London: Once considered exotic, Indian-origin parakeets in Britain are to be culled because they have colonised large parts of suburbia and are now threatening "native species".
The ring-necked parakeet was first thought to have been imported to Britain as sought-after pets in the 1960s, but many escaped and the species was first seen in the wild in 1969.
Now thought to number 30,000, living mostly in southeast England, they are blamed for wrecking fruit crops and threatening nuthatches, kestrels, starlings and tawny and little owls by taking over nesting sites.
From next year, the bright green birds will join the wild boar and other `alien species` that are allowed to be culled, the Sunday Times reported.
British Wildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "It`s essential our native species are given the protection they need to flourish. Stopping the spread of invasive non-native species makes a real difference to the survival of our own plants, birds and animals."
But the move to designate parakeets pests has been attacked by some experts, with the London Wildlife Trust saying there is "little evidence" the birds cause a problem.
The parakeets, says the Trust, are "as British as curry".
IANS
