Wildlife group demands ban on peacock feather trade

New Delhi News.Net
Monday 10th September, 2007

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.

Have your say on this story