Peahens in Madhopur village in East Champaran. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Motihari, Jan. 6: The sudden death of five peacocks over the past three days has shocked the residents of Madhopur Govind village.

It has also raised questions about whether the authorities are effectively enforcing the laws for the prevention of poaching and trafficking of wildlife.

Situated about 33km south-west of the district headquarters, the village is also known as Mayur Vihar because nearly 400 peacocks and peahens nest here. The sudden death of five of the birds has raised questions about whether they are suffering from some disease or have been victims of poaching.

Some of the villagers claim they had seen a couple of suspicious persons near the village a few days ago.

They might have tried to drug the birds to smuggle them away, said a villager. But a high dose of intoxicant may have resulted in the casualty, he added.

Guddu Singh, the mukhiya (village head) of the Mani Chhapra panchayat, told The Telegraph that the birds do not usually die of cold. So, the elders of the village, who have observed the lifecycle of the birds for over 60 years, claim that the cold wave could not possibly be a cause of the sudden deaths.

The villagers were very concerned, as five birds had died over the past three days, added Singh. They want the forest department to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of the deaths.

District magistrate Narmadeshwar Lal has already ordered an inquiry into the matter. Motihari forest ranger Surendra Prasad told The Telegraph that the forest department headquarters in the state capital had been informed about the incident. They were likely to conduct an inquiry into the matter to prevent such incidents in the future.

The national bird was first brought to the village over 60 years ago, when one Chandrika Singh bought a couple of peacocks and peahens from the Sonepur fair in 1950.

The numbers of the birds have swelled over the years. Since there are restrictions against the domestication of the birds, the villagers have jointly provided a number of shelters for them near the village orchard, cowsheds and outhouses.

The villagers have also taken the responsibility to protect the birds from animals or poachers. A pond has been made especially for the use of the birds. Most of the birds have become friendly with the humans and they co-exist peacefully.

Monsoon is the best time to see these birds, said a villager. When the rains arrive, the birds spread their plumes and dance, in groups or individually, he added.

They have felt so protected here that they never made any effort to shift, said Guddu Singh.

A few years ago, one peacock was killed and the guilty was made to pay Rs 1,000 as fine, added the mukhiya. The money was used to provide facilities for the birds.