The study recommended by the Ministry of Forests and Environment to start in June awaits approval from the Prime Minister who heads the National Wildlife Board.

Bombay Natural History Society and Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History will complete the survey in six months.

But strangely nothing is said about poaching of the national bird for its feathers.

In the last five years hundreds of peacocks have been killed, according to Wildlife Protection Society of India.

For example, in 2001, 263 cases of peacock hunting were reported.

But there are voices on the National Wildlife Board that speak of the danger to peacocks from hunting.

Doubts remain whether trading in peacock feathers involve feathers shed naturally by the birds or they are plucked from hunted peacocks.