Madhya Pradesh: Over 10 National Bird of India peafowls were reported death in 2020, up from 6 in 2019 in Indore district
Over 10 peafowls were reported death in 2020, up from 6 in 2019 in Indore district. This rise is becoming a cause of concern for forest department, especially after the recent outbreak of bird flu that spread among various species bring the avian population down in the district.
The national bird of India Peafowl is protected under Indian Wildlife Act 1972, but following the mysterious deaths of peafowls across the country in 2009, several actions have been taken to conserve their population.
With coronavirus outbreak and enforcement of lockdown, possibly the peafowls also suffered several challenges from rising temperatures, pesticide-treated wheat and poaching.
Even in 2009, in Madhya Pradesh, veterinary doctors had estimated the only possible cause behind mysterious deaths of peafowls in the state to be similar, i.e. rising temperatures or pesticide-treated wheat.
The challenge for peafowls in upcoming summers:
“As summers begun and there is shortage of water in the forest as well as villages. And villagers normally cleaning their storage houses and throwing out their old wheat. So, we cannot rule out pesticide poisoning. So keeping both the reasons in mind, we have to take necessary steps and ensure conservation of the national bird in our district and state," HS Mohanta, chief conservator of forest, Indore, said.
Provisions made for towards the conservation of Peafowls
-shared by CCF Mohanta
1. Identification of Sensitive villages in Indore and categorising them (list attached)
2. Helpline numbers of the forest staff in case of urgency.
3. Provision for water and feed
4. Provision of Treatment of Peafowl, if needed
5. Coordinating with the Veterinary Department and the Indore Zoo
6. Awareness Campaign
7. Identification and motivation of Conservation Volunteers
8. Spread of message for not to using Insecticides and Pesticides during the Summer Months
9. Mobile Unit for rescue of Peafowl if needed.
10. Training of the Forest Staff in this regard.
Areas of major concern
Morod, Devguradia, Kundel, Ameerkhedi, Kandel, Ralamandal, Betma, Malwa Mill, Panchkuyiya, Residency area, and CAT area.
Other challenges for peafowls population in Indore
Hunting of peafowl is prohibited, though the trade of feathers from natural shedding is exempted. But, in villages, poachers smuggle them to collect feathers.
Besides natural factors, destruction of habitats, poaching and contamination of food, are severely hampering the bird's population.
Some parts of the country and state report greater levels of crop damage by peafowl, a trend that calls for careful conflict assessment and management.
Number of peafowl deaths in various districts in last 5 years
The national bird of India Peafowl is protected under Indian Wildlife Act 1972, but following the mysterious deaths of peafowls across the country in 2009, several actions have been taken to conserve their population.
With coronavirus outbreak and enforcement of lockdown, possibly the peafowls also suffered several challenges from rising temperatures, pesticide-treated wheat and poaching.
Even in 2009, in Madhya Pradesh, veterinary doctors had estimated the only possible cause behind mysterious deaths of peafowls in the state to be similar, i.e. rising temperatures or pesticide-treated wheat.
The challenge for peafowls in upcoming summers:
“As summers begun and there is shortage of water in the forest as well as villages. And villagers normally cleaning their storage houses and throwing out their old wheat. So, we cannot rule out pesticide poisoning. So keeping both the reasons in mind, we have to take necessary steps and ensure conservation of the national bird in our district and state," HS Mohanta, chief conservator of forest, Indore, said.
Provisions made for towards the conservation of Peafowls
-shared by CCF Mohanta
1. Identification of Sensitive villages in Indore and categorising them (list attached)
2. Helpline numbers of the forest staff in case of urgency.
3. Provision for water and feed
4. Provision of Treatment of Peafowl, if needed
5. Coordinating with the Veterinary Department and the Indore Zoo
6. Awareness Campaign
7. Identification and motivation of Conservation Volunteers
8. Spread of message for not to using Insecticides and Pesticides during the Summer Months
9. Mobile Unit for rescue of Peafowl if needed.
10. Training of the Forest Staff in this regard.
Areas of major concern
Morod, Devguradia, Kundel, Ameerkhedi, Kandel, Ralamandal, Betma, Malwa Mill, Panchkuyiya, Residency area, and CAT area.
Other challenges for peafowls population in Indore
Hunting of peafowl is prohibited, though the trade of feathers from natural shedding is exempted. But, in villages, poachers smuggle them to collect feathers.
Besides natural factors, destruction of habitats, poaching and contamination of food, are severely hampering the bird's population.
Some parts of the country and state report greater levels of crop damage by peafowl, a trend that calls for careful conflict assessment and management.
Number of peafowl deaths in various districts in last 5 years
|
District |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Alirajpur |
7 |
- |
1 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
|
Dhar |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Indore |
15 |
8 |
12 |
12 |
6 |
10 |
|
Jhabua |
10 |
14 |
18 |
44 |
- |
- |