News Excerpt:

Government declares Adichunchanagiri in Karnataka and Choolannuar in Kerala as Peacock Sanctuary.

More about news:

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change said that the Central Government has declared Adichunchanagiri in Karnataka and Choolannuar in Kerala as Peacock Sanctuary. 
• In reply to a question regarding the death of peacocks in Delhi, he informed Lok Sabha that peacocks died due to heat stroke and not by avian influenza. 
• The Minister said, several measures are being taken for the conservation of the national bird and the ministry has also set up breeding and conservation centers for peacocks.  

About Adichunchanagiri Peacock Sanctuary:

• To protect India’s national pride, the majestic Peacock, Adichunchanagiri Peacock Sanctuary was one the many steps taken. 
• These pheasant tribe birds are flamboyant but shy and as a peacock shelter, the Adichunchanagiri Peacock Sanctuary truly provides them safety and does so with the utmost care. 
• Established as a sanctuary in 1981 in Karnataka’s Mandya district at Nagamangala Taluk due to a huge growing population of peafowls, the sanctuary adheres to strict historical norms made for the safety of these birds.

About Choolannur Peacock Sanctuary:

• Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary located in Chulanur village in Palakkad district of Kerala state, south India. 
• The place where the sanctuary is located is locally known as Mayiladumpara, which literally means "the rock where peacocks dance". 
• As of 2022, it is the only peafowl sanctuary in Kerala.

About Peacock:

• Peacock or Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a familiar and universally known large pheasant. 
• It is the National Bird of India. The term “Peacock” is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. 
• Technically, only males are Peacock, females are peahens and together they are called peafowl.
• The Indian peafowl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
• Peacock  belongs to Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

Threats:

• Habitat loss, specially the shortage of tall trees in and around the villages for roosting and for providing shade during hot summer months.
• Shortage of drinking water for the birds during the hot summer days. It may cause heat stroke.
• Casualties caused by eating chemically treated agricultural crop seeds.
• Illegal hunting by some communities.

Conservation Measures:

Direct and indirect approach is required to provide effective conservation, which is recommended as under:

• Increasing the tree cover in the buffer area for shelter and roosting of peacocks. This will be achieved by planting tree groves (a group of trees that grow close together, generally without many bushes or other plants) in a buffer area. 
• By conducting awareness programmes (community and school level) for conservation of peacocks.
• Some provision of rewards to informers for the control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife.
• Carrying out census and research projects to know the potential threats and population status of the species.
• Provision of veterinary care and cages for injured or sick deformed birds.
• Suggest strategies to minimize negative impacts of changing environment in nearby areas of peacock populations and to promote conservation of peacock habitats.
• Another way to help preserve the endangered species is to create a society dedicated to ecological ethics. 

With the objective of effectively protecting wildlife and to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives, the Government of India enacted Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. The Act was amended in January 2003 and punishment and penalty for offenses under the Act have been made more stringent.