Six peacock carcasses found in Bundi

The carcasses of four peacocks and two two peahens have been found here with forest officials suspecting that poachers might have killed them.
Wildlife activists say there have been more than 30 deaths due to poaching of the national bird in last one month in this Rajasthan district.
According to forest guard Ram Singh of Lakheri range, the carcasses of three peacocks and two peahens were discovered yesterday in the bushes on Bundi Road near ITI in Lakheri town of the district.
Poison-laced corns were found from the nearby areas that suggest the birds were poisoned to death by the poachers, he said.

Autopsy was later done at Deikheda veterinary hospital.
In another incident, the carcass of one more peacock was found yesterday from Sangawada village of the district, said Prathvi Singh Rajawat, a wildlife activist.

Another activist Vittal Sanadhaya said the killings of at least 25 more peacocks have been reported from various parts of the district in February.
In one of these cases, seven peacocks were found dead in the same village with their necks twisted.
District Forest Officer Digvijay Gupt said there was a rise in killings of the national bird in Bundi despite arrest of several poachers from Nainwa region last month.

He asserted that a drive is on to contain the menace.
He also said the people of Mongiya and Kanjar tribes have been engaged in killing peacocks for long prompting the forest authorities to launch an awareness campaign among locals on the need to preserve the species.