Kazakh police urged animal rights groups to help them take care of thousands parrots and turtles seized from a smuggler.The appeal came just days after dozens of parrots died of hunger at a police station.
Interior Ministry spokesman Bagdat Kozhakhmetov: "We have all the conditions to keep humans in custody but there is nothing in legislation about maintaining seized animals."
He told reporters police seized 1,000 parrots, canaries, peacocks and pigeons, and 1,000 turtles, all packed in big bags, from an Uzbek citizen last week.
Mr Kozhakhmetov said: "There is a serious problem. They might die."
"We would like to call on NGOs (non governmental organisations), if they could help police officers deal with this risky and unexpected burden."
Last week dozens of parrots seized from a smuggler died of hunger and thirst before they could be handed over to a zoo.
Kazakhstan lies on a smuggling route for rare birds and animals being taken to Russia and Europe.
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