9 peafowls poisoned to death in Rajasthan

Barely a week after 23 peafowls were found dead in mysterious circumstances in Rajasthan's Banswara district, another nine peafowls were poisoned to death in Nagaur district, police said today.

Carcasses of the birds, including six females, were recovered from a well in Khokhar village. A tenth bird survived miraculously, head constable Rati Ram posted at Parbatsar police station said.

A male peafowl is called a peacock, the national bird of India, while the female is known as a peahen. The young offsprings are peachicks.

A 16-year-old boy, who was caught by villagers giving poisonous grain to the birds, has been arrested, he said.

The teen was accompanied by a friend, Sukh Ram (18), who managed to escape, he added.

The minor was produced before a juvenile justice court today. Efforts are on to arrest his accomplice, forest ranger of Nagaur district, Sandeep Singh, said.

A case has been registered against the accused under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act.

The viscera report of the birds will be sent to Ajmer for forensic examination after the post-mortem, he said.