Hubballi: Excess use of pesticide has been posing a threat to the lives of peacocks in Haveri district as hundreds of birds have died in the recent past after farmers took up sowing operations.
Bird lovers have raised an alarm for the protection of peacocks after several birds died in Byadagi taluk by consuming seeds containing high amount of chemicals and fertilisers in the fields.
Rising human interference and lack of adequate financial resources has jeopardised the prospects of the Peacock Conservation Reserve in Bankapur. Poaching has also been posing a threat to the peacocks as a large number of birds roam in agricultural land outside the reserve.
The state government has declared 139-acres of forest land in Bankapur as a conservation reserve in 2006 after conducting a census. High mounds and deep trenches in the reserve has become an ideal location for peacock breeding.
Situated two km away from NH 4 in Shiggaon taluk, the animal husbandry department, that owns the entire land, has been extending assistance with its limited financial resources for conservation and breeding of the national bird.
But, increase of people’s movement and infrastructure development near the conservation reserve has been causing disturbance to the peacocks. This has raised concern among bird lovers who are demanding adequate protection for the peacocks after several birds died due to pesticide poisoning.
“Interference of people has increased in areas surrounding the peacock reserve as construction of small barrages is underway in the locality. The reserve lacks proper source of water for the peacocks and this will force the birds to move out of the reserve paving the way for poaching. The officials have not reconstituted the committee involving environmentalists and they also failed to convene any meeting for the protection of the peacock reserve,” said bird lover and geology professor N R Birasal.
Last year, Bombay Natural History Society had placed the peacock reserve among ten important habitats of birds in the country that are facing danger due to rapid urbanization and rising insensitivity towards nature.
Conservator of forest Hanumaraj said that the department will raise awareness among farmers after incidents of peacock deaths were reported due to pesticide consumption.
