Three helmeted currasows, an endangered species of birds found in Columbia and Venezuela, and over a dozen pigeons of various varieties were rescued by a BSF team while they were being allegedly smuggled into the city from Bangladesh on Tuesday.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, the helmeted curassow population is on the decline because of habitat loss and hunting. It is estimated that less than 3,000 mature individuals can be found.

The BSF had information that the birds would be smuggled from Bangladesh near the Dobila border outpost near Swarupnagar in North 24-Parganas.

The team on duty spotted a man with a basket on his head, a BSF officer said.

Asked to stop, he dropped the basket and fled. The team found the birds crammed inside the basket.

The birds were later identified by forest department officers. They will be sent to the Alipore zoo soon.