A St Joseph resident has been charged after police and game wardens seized 33 exotic animals at his home.

On August 9th, 2023, officers went to the house at Longden Street and executed a search warrant.

They reportedly found one Blue and Gold Macaw, one Yellow-Crowned Parrot, two Plumbeous Seedeaters (locally known as Herito), one Large Billed Seedeater, one Double Collared Seedeater, five Green Rumped Parrotlet, eight Bullfinches, seven Yellow Bellied Seedeaters, three Picoplat, one Lappe and three Agouti.

The Agriculture Ministry says the property owner informed officers that the animals were his and clarified that he had no permits for their possession.

The man was taken to the St. Joseph Police Station, where he was formally charged for the offences committed.

Charges included possession of Schedule II animals during the closed season contrary to Regulation 6(1), keeping protected animals in captivity without a permit contrary to Regulation 9(1), keeping cage birds without permits contrary to Regulation 4 A(1) and keeping cage birds in undersized cage contrary to Regulation 4(1).