Bihar’s ‘Peacock Village’ Sees Dwindling Numbers of the Birds

PATNA (IANS) – The population of peacocks has recently dramatically plummeted in Madhopur Govind village, popularly known as the peacock village, in Bihar’s East Champaran district.

Two decades ago, there were said to be about 300 peacocks in Madhopur village, but their number has now reduced to a dozen.

People believe that some peacocks died of old age, while most died due to the widespread use of pesticides in the vegetable fields in the village.

However, since the number of peacocks has skyrocketed in a village in Saharsa district, the Bihar government has now planned to conserve these birds in those areas where their population has declined.

Aran village of Saharsa is the only place in Bihar, where even today there are 200 to 300 peacocks, and talks are on to make institutional arrangements for their conservation.

According to officials, special areas will be earmarked for peacocks, where pesticides or insecticides will not be used as most of the birds die from consuming these toxic substances.