National bird ‘Peacock’ facing threat from poachers

It is common knowledge among officials of the Forest Department that the birds are killed for their feathers.

Peacock – It is the national bird and for many it is the holiest of avian fauna. It is associated with more than one God. It is the vahana (steed) of Subramanyeswara Swamy, is a favourite of Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Lord Krishna wears the feather of the peacock in his crown.

The bird concerned is sacred and highly respected, but the trading of its feathers is allowed under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The sale of peacock feathers is common at all places where devotees of Lord Shiva or Lord Krishna gather. A few vendors of peacock feathers were seen at different bath ghats on Maha Sivaratri here on Monday.

The trading of peacock feathers is exempted under the Wildlife Act on the premise that the large tail feathers of the bird are shed, but it is common knowledge among officials of the Forest Department that the birds are “killed for collection.”

The then Union Minister of State for Environment Jairam Ramesh proposed an amendment Sections 43 (3) (a) and 44 of the Wildlife Protection Act in 2010, but his portfolio was changed even before he could follow it through.

Peacock prefer the scrub lands to the dense forests. The bird was revered more in North India than in the South. According to the Wildlife Act the killing of the National Bird is prohibited. The birds are killed using pesticide for the collection of the lovely tail feathers.

They have not yet made it to the IUCN Red List of endangered species, but the bird lovers are under the strong opinion that the peacocks that live only in the wild were not safe from poachers.

Nobody keeps them at home or in farms as it was considered bad luck to keep them in captivity.

 

Where elephant calves are treated as children

The mahouts’ family taking the calves for a walk inside the enclosure at the Vandalur zoo on Wednesday

The mahouts are tribals born in Kozhikamuthi in Topslip, Pollachi, where an elephant training camp is functioning

Sharon, a 14-month-old orphaned elephant calf, quietly walks behind four-year-old Lavanya. When she says ‘stop’, the calf obeys her and returns to the shed where three other calves are housed.

Lavanya and Nandhini, who is also four, are the children of mahouts Rajan and Arumugam, who take care of the calves, along with their wives, Vennila and Prema. The women also play a key role in rearing the calves. The calves go to sleep only when the women pat them after providing supper, says Mr. Rajan.

P.L. Ananthasamy, Chief Conservator of Forests and Vandalur zoo director, said: “The emotional bond between calves and the women handlers is very crucial, which helped the calves to survive even at the time of distress.”

The other three calves include Narasimha, Urigam and Giri.

They have been rescued from different forest divisions in the State and sent to the zoo for rehabilitation.

Sharon is from Sathyamangalam Forest Division, Narasimha from Narasapuram forests in Coimbatore Forest Division, Urigam from Thali Range and Giri from Javalagiri Range of Hosur Forest Division, Mr. Ananthasamy said.

The calves’ day begins early in the morning with a bath followed by feeding, which included Lactogen II, tender coconut water and glucose.

Then the older calves, Sharon and Narasimha, go around the zoo. Back in the shed, they again have a wash.

The calves are provided feed every two hours. All four calves are kept in the exhibit area for one-and-half hours each in the morning and evening every day. Water is sprayed on them as the day temperature rises, Mr. Ananthasamy said.

Rajan and Arumugam are tribals born in Kozhikamuthi in Topslip, Pollachi, where an elephant training camp is functioning. So, handling the calves is as easy as raising children for the two families.

At present the Union government provides funds for this kind of unusual work. If the State government also provides more funds, better care and a separate rehabilitation centre for orphaned calves could be created.

This is essential because more and more calves stray away from their herds and are rescued by the Wildlife officials in the State, said a senior officer of the wildlife wing.

Gir Sanctuary to take up lion census in April

COUNT ME IN: A young lion yawns in the Gir Lion Sanctuary. The Forest Department is gearing up to conduct a survey in the sanctuary in April 2010

The Gujarat State Forest Department will begin the census on April 24. Over 1,500 officials have been given special training for the job and at the end of the operation, the Department will have photographed every lion to make sure they have a perfect head count.

The Gujarat State Forest Department is getting ready to conduct a lion census from April 24 in the famous Gir Sanctuary in Junagadh district.

Nearly 1,500 officials would be deployed in the census, conducted every five years for a head count of Asiatic lions at Gir, sources from the Department said.

The officials have been given special training for the job, sources said, adding the Department will have photographed every lion to make sure they have a perfect head count.

A primary head count will be conducted on the first two days and a final count over the next two days. GIS (geographical information system) will be used this time in the census.

National Park District Forest Officer (DFO) Sandip Kumar said nearly 1,500 officials will be on the job, including 900 assistants, 100 sub-zonal officials, 28 zonal officials and several region officers and observers. The final report would be submitted to the chief minister who will then disclose the exact number of lions in the Gir sanctuary, sources said.

In the last census, 359 lions were reported. Many lions fell prey to poachers or fell to their death into open wells in subsequent years. However, the Department expects a rise in numbers this time around.