Mass Deaths of Peacocks and Birds in Rajasthan Village Spark Concerns, Demand for Investigation

Bikaner- The mysterious death of birds has left bird-lovers stunned, with 25 peacocks, along with crows, quail, and pigeons, raising concerns among wildlife enthusiasts. The absence of an FIR by the Forest Department has sparked questions about the department's functioning.

In the Shridungargarh forest area of Bikaner district, a shocking case of the death of more than two dozen peacocks came to light on January 20th. However, officials have been unable to ascertain the cause of death, causing distress among wildlife lovers. Mokha Ram Vishnoi, the district president of Jeev Raksha Sanstha in Bikaner, expressed resentment over the death of 39 birds, including 25 peacocks, and has demanded an inquiry into the matter.

Mokha Ram Vishnoi revealed that 23 peacocks were found dead on January 20th in Maankrasar village of the Shridungargarh forest area in Bikaner, while two peacocks died during treatment. Other birds, such as crows and pigeons, also died in the vicinity, raising serious concerns. Mokha Ram stated, "Officials have a very lax approach despite the fact that news of bird hunting keeps coming."

Villagers suspect poachers could be behind the mass deaths in the jungle, but instead of apprehending the culprits, forest officials are reportedly raiding the homes of villagers. The villagers allege that the birds were fed poisonous substances, leading to their deaths.

The Acting Regional Forest Officer of Shridungargarh, Kapil Chowdhary, took custody of the corpses of 25 peacocks, 8 crows, one pigeon, and one quail, sending them to the Bikaner Zoo rescue center for post-mortem. The initial post-mortem report indicates poisoning of the birds, as all the birds were found frothing.

Forest officials have conducted raids on around 40-45 houses for poisonous substances and grains. They have recovered a sack of food grains infested with fungus. The forest workers are also searching through the farms to check if farmers have kept rat poison in their villages or if someone sprayed pesticides on the crops, causing the large-scale death of birds.

Kapil Chowdhary, the Regional Forest Officer of the Shridungur range, confirmed the death of 25 peacocks in a village, along with crows, pigeons, and quails. He mentioned that the initial investigation suggests death after consuming poison-laced grains, and they are investigating whether this act was intentional or unintentional. The delay in the Forest Department registering an FIR points to the inefficient functioning of the officials in the department.

Jeev Raksha Sanstha Bikaner asserts, "There was a mass killing of peacocks, but the forest officials were not moved. We demand a high-level investigation into the matter, and strict action should be taken against the accused. Evidence at the site of the incident points to an intentional crime, and the administration is trying to suppress this."

Story Translated by Pratikshit Singh