Bundi: 9 peacocks mysteriously found dead

Bundi, Mar 21: Nine carcasses of the Indian national bird were found in an agriculture field in Bachola village of Nainwa subdivision.

Assistant Conservator of Forests in charge of the subdivision, Jairam Pandey said that a post-mortem will soon be conducted to examine the cause of death. However, on the face of it, it seems to be a handiwork of brutal poachers.

Pandey said that locals in Bachola village informed forest officials yesterday that they had found peacock carcasses scattered in an agricultural field.

Early last year, the Central Government banned the use of peacock feather in handicrafts and jewellery. The decision at that point came after 50 years after such products got an exclusive tag. Today, inspite of the ban illegal poaching continues and it makes good money both nationally and internationally.

World Wide Fund for nature estimated in 1991 that India was left with only 50% of the total peacock population that existed at the time of Independence. Government officials and animal activists believe that the number has come down further since 1991 because of habitat loss and poaching.

It’s interesting to have a wee bit of background information on this issue. Trade of naturally shed peacock feathers is allowed under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which although prohibits killing of the bird. The loophole in the law has been misused and had lead to rampant killing of the bird across India for highly lucrative feather business. With the limited staff, the forest departments have found it difficult to check their poaching.

Therefore this act was amended by the cabinet last year to make trade of body parts of peacocks an offence equivalent to punishment for killing other non-endangered species.

A person caught selling or purchasing peacock feathers or trophies could be jailed for up to two years under the amended law although having peacock feathers by citizens will not be a crime.