(IN): Rajasthan state The National Bird Crisis

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Rajasthan not safe for peacocks, says animal rights group

 

Indo-Asian News Service

Jaipur, April 02, 2007

First Published: 11:29 IST(2/4/2007)

Last Updated: 12:25 IST(2/4/2007)

 

 

The peacock, India's national bird, is not safe in Rajasthan anymore

with as many as 10 of the birds being killed daily in the state, an

animal protection group has said.

 

People for Animals says that the state government has so far failed to

arrest the increasing death toll of peacocks.

 

According to Babulal Jajoo, convener of the organisation, about 36

villages in 14 districts of Rajasthan are emerging as the most

dangerous for the peacocks. The birds are killed by poachers for their

feathers or by tribals for the meat, he said.

 

" Maximum deaths are taking place in the Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh

and Shekhawati belt of the state. About 250 peacocks have reportedly

been killed in these places in the last four months, " Jajoo said.

 

The animal protection group claims that most peacock killings go

unreported. Recently, 22 peacocks were killed in Sarwada town of Ajmer

district. Similarly, nine peacocks were killed in Dabal village of

Bhilwara district.

 

Most of the times, poaching of the national bird takes place outside

the forest areas and forest officials are reluctant to probe the

matter, he said.

 

He alleged that tribal people usually kill peacocks for the meat. The

high value of the male peacock feather in international markets is

also responsible for the frequent killings by poachers.

 

Expressing concern over the increased killing of peacocks, Rajasthan

Forest Minister LN Dave said: " We are taking steps to stop the killings. "