Despite the fact that the peacock is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, over 3,000 peacocks were killed in the state in 2009 according to PFA. It may be mentioned here that Section 9 of the Act prohibits hunting of wild animals and birds specified in Schedule I, II, and III and IV, except as provided under Sections XI and XII. This classification has been made keeping in mind the significance and population of wildlife. Those highly threatened find a place in Schedule I. Section 51 of the Act prescribes a maximum imprisonment of 7 years, Rs 50,000 fine or both for hunting animals and birds specified on Schedule I.
Informs a wildlife expert, “Over 3,000 peacocks were killed in the state last year, but I do not remember any one being convicted for the crime in Rajasthan. It shows the laxity of police and forest officials.”
The police meanwhile defends itself by saying that it is difficult for them to identify the poachers. “We usually find these peacocks dead in agriculture fields. With the help of the forest department, we conduct postmortems, but when it comes to registering cases we have to register it against unidentified persons as there are no witnesses in a majority of cases,” said a police official on conditions of anonymity. In any case, passing the buck will leave us little to preen about in the very near future.
Informs a wildlife expert, “Over 3,000 peacocks were killed in the state last year, but I do not remember any one being convicted for the crime in Rajasthan. It shows the laxity of police and forest officials.”
The police meanwhile defends itself by saying that it is difficult for them to identify the poachers. “We usually find these peacocks dead in agriculture fields. With the help of the forest department, we conduct postmortems, but when it comes to registering cases we have to register it against unidentified persons as there are no witnesses in a majority of cases,” said a police official on conditions of anonymity. In any case, passing the buck will leave us little to preen about in the very near future.
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