JAIPUR: The national bird is on the verge of extinction in Rajasthan. The state has recorded an alarming rise in the number of poaching incidents in rural areas for their feathers and flesh. Ironically, nothing substantial has been done by the authorities to arrest the crime.
At least seven peacocks were found dead in Ajmer district’s Bhaghera town recently. According to a survey conducted by People for Animals (PFA), since February, 250 peacocks were poached in 20 incidents in several districts, including Bikaner, Nagaur, Sikar, Chittorgarh and Bundi.
Apart from poaching, many other factors, including habitat loss and contamination of food sources, are believed to be responsible for such large-scale deaths. “Peacocks are being killed alarmingly with an average of about 10 birds a day,” said PFA’s Rajasthan head Babulal Jaju. Despite the fact that the peacock is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, over 3,000 birds are killed in the state every year, as per PFA. The birds are fed poisonous grains by villagers leading to their deaths. Post-mortem of peacocks killed in the rural areas of the state has brought this fact to the fore.
In the survey, districts such as Churu, Jhunjhunu, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bhilwara and Chittorgarh have turned out to be most vulnerable in terms of poaching. “About 40 villages were identified in the survey where poaching takes place on regular basis,” said Jaju.
Several FIRs have been registered with the police by the officials of the Forest Department on the basis of post-mortem reports suggesting poaching, but no action has yet been taken. Apart from poaching the peacock for its feathers, which are sold at $6-8 in international market, tribals kill the bird for meat.
“There is confusion over legality of export of peacock feathers. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is in the process of completely banning the trade of peacock feathers which is rampant in various states. Though the usual street shops are no longer selling the feathers openly, it is being sold in many places of India,” said Jaju. Peacocks are also targeted for their fat which is mistaken by some as a cure for arthritis.
Poachers’ preferred way of killing the bird is by poisoning them. They cut off its head when it falls unconscious after eating poisonous grains. Then the crest is ripped off and then the tail feathers. In their attempt to keep the feathers intact, some poachers first pull out the feathers and then kill the bird. The easiest way to kill a male peacock is during the mating season when it dances around in the open and can be easily targeted, say wildlife activists.
Despite stringent laws, the state government has so far failed to curb the increasing toll of peacocks. Notably, Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act prescribes a maximum imprisonment of seven years, `50,000 fine or both for hunting animals and birds specified in Schedule I. Those highly threatened, including the peacock, find a place in Schedule I.
“Despite 10 birds being killed every day in Rajasthan, no one has been arrested for the crime over the past one year,” said a wildlife activist. Police say that due to lack of evidence and witnesses, most cases are registered against unidentified persons. “In most cases, villagers themselves are involved in poaching. The fellow villagers do not come forward in helping the police nab the poachers,”
a senior police officer said.