A tiny sparrow, trapped for days in a glass showcase of a sealed textile shop in Ullikkal, Kerala, was freed on April 9 in a rare rescue operation led by Kannur’s district judge and collector. The shop, locked for six months under a Kerala High Court order due to a legal dispute, became the bird’s prison until locals heard its desperate chirps on April 8.

The community’s alarm reached District Collector Arun K. Vijayan, who coordinated with the High Court and Kannur District Judge Nissar Ahamed. By 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Ahamed arrived with officials, ordering the shop’s two locks and glass door opened. The sparrow, spooked, tried to flee but was gently caught by a rescuer. Amid cheers from the crowd, the bird was released, soaring to a nearby tree branch.

“I thank the locals and media for raising the issue, and the authorities for acting swiftly,” Ahamed said. Locals had initially alerted the Fire Force and Forest officials, but both were powerless due to the court directive. They managed to slip water and grains through a tiny gap—the same opening the sparrow had slipped through but couldn’t escape.

The rescue, a first for Kannur, highlighted community spirit and official resolve. Yet, with sparrow populations dwindling in Kerala, as noted during World Sparrow Day on March 20, some wonder if such efforts could spark broader conservation action. For now, Ullikkal celebrates a small victory—one bird’s freedom symbolizing hope.