The Maldives government has announced three types of rare doves as protected after they were spotted in the archipelago.

There was initial confusion among the public after the environment ministry announced three types of birds as protected in the Maldives. Many thought that the protected birds were common pigeons.

But later authorities clarified that the protected birds were three types of rare doves.

The birds, belonging to the Columbidae family, which is the same as the common pigeon, and often referred to as rare types of pigeons in the Maldives were among 104 types of birds declared as protected in the Maldives, according to SunOnline International.

The ministry said the confusion started after the use of the term ‘pigeon’ by the media and that it had received a lot of phone calls as a result. 

The ministry specified that the types of birds protected are actually doves. They are - European turtle dove, Oriental turtle dove and Western spotted dove. The birds are not commonly found in the Maldives.

The other birds that were declared as protected include buzzards, lesser whistling ducks, greater flamingos, common cuckoos, and the peregrine falcon. 

Under the law now, harming them, or destroying their habitats, and removing them from their natural habitats has been banned.