February and March are rather unceremonious for the peacock population in Punjab or so it seems. Only last year, a Punjab Government official was caught on February 28 for alleged killing of the national bird.

A year earlier too, at least four cases of peacock poaching were reported over the period of these months. Here we are again with another case coming to light even while the apparently risky spell is not over. This time around, the killing of the national bird has been averted but severe injuries have stayed on its fragile body to tell the tale of poachers’ brutality.

Recovered in a state of grievous hurt from Batala in Gurdaspur, the peahen in question had been attacked by two poachers active in the area. In fact, had it not been for the promptness shown by Mr Sukhdeep Singh Bajwa, who is awaiting an extension as honorary wildlife warden, Gurdaspur, the bird would well have been dead, its feathers plucked out for business or for taste.

Cracking down on poachers moving along the canal bank near Bhamri village in suspicious circumstances, Mr Bajwa managed to save the peahen which was reeling with pain consequent upon the damage inflicted upon its feathers. As it was, the bird’s feathers had been closely cut to disallow movement and prevent flight. Because the bird could not be released in captivity, it has been sent to the Tiger Safari, Ludhiana, to recuperate.

Mr Bajwa told The Tribune today, “These men had a greyhound and a huge loaded bag. When asked to stop, they got panicky, dropped the bag and ran away. They were chased till very far but could not be caught”.

On inspection of the bag, the wildlife warden found there was a live peahen in it. A small hole had been made in the corner of the bag just big enough to allow the neck to stick out. This was done to prevent the bird from dying of suffocation and at the same time to restrict its movement.

The Forest Department has been intimated and a case under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, will be registered once the culprits are nabbed. The Act provides for three years’ imprisonment in case of any hurt or killing of the national bird. Protected under Schedule I of the Act, the peacock/peahen cannot even be hunted down. Under the law, disturbing the nests and eggs of the bird is also not permitted.

However, due to lack of proper implementation of the Act, peacock poachers often manage to escape.