After Monkey Menace, Peacocks Add to pain of Farmers in Tiruchy District

After Monkey Menace, Peacocks Add to pain of Farmers in Tiruchy District

TIRUCHY : After monkeys, it is now peacocks, which are intruding into residential areas and destroying crops cultivated near forest ranges in the district. The only difference is that monkeys get close to humans, thereby creating a scare, while peacocks damage crops in the fields.

Forest officials said that the breeding of peacocks in the district is on the rise, and they estimate that around 12,000 birds are currently present in the region. However, they have formed many teams to contain the menace. Farmers whose crops have been damaged by peacocks have demanded forest officials to take urgent measures to tackle the menace, and also recommend compensation for the lost crop.

Farmers said, “the peacock menace is on the rise in Thuraiyur, Mannachanallur, Musiri, Marungapuri and a few other areas. It is high time that forest officials took some steps,” said Ayilai Siva Suriyan, district secretary, Thamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam. Admitting to the problem, a forest ranger told Express, “Even we are wondering as to how to go about the problem. Those affected by the problem quickly throw the blame on us. When we capture peacocks or monkeys, there is no proper place to accommodate them.” The government should take the complaint of farmers and residents into consideration, and construct enclosures for accommodating the captured birds and animals, the ranger added.

It may be recalled that the forest officials already stated that around 10,000 monkeys were troubling people living in the fringe areas of the forests. Now, peacocks are out to destroy crops.

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