Retired Army Veteran Offers ₹21,000 Reward for Missing Pet Parakeet Gopi in Madhya Pradesh

A retired Army man in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol district has announced a reward of ₹21,000 for anyone who helps trace and return his missing pet parakeet, Gopi, after the bird flew away from the family home on Saturday afternoon. The appeal by Chandan Mishra, a resident of Sohagpur near the Banganga Mela ground under the Sohagpur police station area, has drawn wide attention on social media, where users have been sharing posters and messages in support of the search.

Mishra issued a video message describing his distress after the disappearance of the bird, which he said had become deeply attached to the family over the past year. In the video and subsequent appeals, he urged local residents to help find the parakeet and bring it back safely.

The family had first announced a reward of ₹11,000 for information leading to Gopi’s return. As the search failed to produce results, the amount was raised to ₹21,000 in the hope that more people would join efforts to locate the bird.

According to Mishra, he had brought the young parakeet from Amarkantak in neighbouring Anuppur district around a year ago. Since then, the bird had become an inseparable part of the household and formed a close bond with family members.

The green-coloured parakeet, affectionately called both Gopi and Mitthu, is described by the family as friendly and responsive. They said the bird can imitate human voices, speak a few words and recognise the voices of people at home, which has made its disappearance especially upsetting for them.

To aid the search, the family has circulated posters on social media carrying details of the bird’s appearance. They said the parakeet has a black ring around its neck along with distinctive markings on its back, features they hope will help people identify it if spotted.

The family said Gopi flew away while younger members of the household were playing with it on Saturday. At first, they expected the bird to return on its own. But when it did not come back by evening, they began searching nearby rooftops, trees and surrounding localities.

Despite repeated efforts, the parakeet could not be found. A visibly emotional Mishra then made a public appeal for assistance and said he would observe a fast until the bird returns safely.

Alongside the public search, the family has also turned to religious rituals. They have contacted a local priest and plan to hold a special havan-pujan ceremony in the hope of Gopi’s safe return.

The announcement of a cash reward for a missing pet bird, coupled with the former soldier’s emotional appeal, has resonated widely online. Many social media users have shared the family’s plea and expressed hope that the campaign will help reunite the parakeet with the household that has cared for it for the past year.

The episode has also drawn attention to the strong emotional attachment many families develop with their pets, and the extraordinary efforts some owners are willing to make when an animal goes missing.