(IN) PFA demands ban on peacock feather trade

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Wildlife group demands ban on peacock feather trade

Indo-Asian News Service

 

Jaipur, Sep 10 (IANS) With increasing incidence of poaching of the national bird

being reported from various parts of Rajasthan, an animal protection group has

demanded ban on trade of peacock feathers.

 

The Rajasthan wing of People for Animal (PFA), while flaying the union

government on the issue, alleged that by allowing sale, purchase and transport

of peacock feathers the government has given " freedom " for poaching of the bird.

 

" The union government should urgently put a ban on the trade as it is the main

reason behind poaching, " Babulal Jaju, the state in-charge of PFA told IANS.

 

" It is only because of this trade that large scale of smuggling of feathers is

also taking place from Rajasthan. On an average, a peacock feather costs between

$8 to $10 in international market, " he said.

 

" As per the recent survey by our organisation, as many as 10 peacocks are being

killed every day in Rajasthan, " Jaju added.

 

He said that about 36 villages in 14 districts of Rajasthan are proving to be

extremely dangerous for the peacocks. " The maximum deaths are taking place in

Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and the Shekhawati belt of the state " , Jaju said.

 

He said that export of the feathers of male birds add to the increase in the

killing of the national bird. He alleged that tribals also kill peacocks for

consuming the meat.

 

PFA feels that most of the times the incident goes unreported as peacock

poaching takes place outside the forest areas so officials are reluctant to

probe the issue. Talking about the poaching methodology, Jaju said that tribals

first give poisoned food to peacocks and then killed them. Many a time the use

of poisonous pesticides in farms also killed the birds.

 

According to PFA, most of the poaching is done during the mating season of the

peacock during the monsoon as peacocks become careless during the season.

 

" If the government fails to act on our demand for imposing a ban on the trade of

peacock feathers then we plan to approach the supreme court for this, " Jaju

said.

 

 

Indo-Asian News Service