Peacocks are poached in TN
By – Arun Ram
CHENNAI: Poached by gypsies and poisoned by farmers, the peacock is
disappearing from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. And, in the absence
of any census or surveillance, the forest department appears to be clueless.
After Rajasthan and Gujarat, Tamil Nadu is one of the states with a large
peacock population-especially in Tiruchi, Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar and
Coimbatore districts where they are found in the open. But, with thousands
of the birds being poached for meat and medicine the state is slowly losing
the colourful species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection
Act.
‘Narakuravas’ (tribal gypsies) and locals poach peacocks for their oil which
is an ingredient in many Siddha medicinal preparations. The oil is
prescribed for joint paints and is also considered an aphrodisiac, while
peacock meat is clandestinely served in a few small eateries to “preferred
customers.” DNA encountered several gypsies selling peacock oil in Madurai
and Theni.
“From the blood stains at the tip of tail feathers being sold in markets
across the state, it is clear that they had been plucked and not shed by the
bird. There are locals ready to kill a bird for Rs 50, while it fetches up
to Rs 1,000 for the end-seller. The males, which weigh more and have long
tail feathers, are more vulnerable to poaching. It is sad that there is no
programme to protect the national bird,” says wildlife conservationist J
Ranjit Daniels.
Another threat to peacocks comes from villagers who poison the birds which
try to enter their agricultural farms. In March, nine peacocks were found
dead near a farm in Coimbatore. “The farmers sell the carcass for a price,”
says a forest department official who confides that the farmers are usually
let off with a warning. The government does not even have a count of
peacocks. “A survey done two years ago found about 5,000 peacocks outside
the sanctuaries and we presume there is an equal number in the sanctuaries,”
says R Ganesan, chief wildlife warden, biodiversity.
The state government last year considered setting up a sanctuary for
peacocks. This, feels principal chief conservator of forests Sukhdev Thakur,
is not feasible.
“The bird cannot be protected in isolation of the ecosystem. A census of
peacocks – unlike that of tigers and elephants – is also impossible as the
birds keep moving frequently,” he says.
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