ELKATHURTHY (KARIMNAGAR): Eighteen peacocks were found dead in an agriculture field in Indira Nagar Gopalapuram village in Elkathurthy mandal on Wednesday. Police suspect the role of Siddipet-based hunters for the death of the birds, which were reportedly poisoned. The dead birds were found scattered over a distance of 15 yards in the maize field. Sub-divisional forest officer P Anil Kumar said the peacocks may have died after consuming grains laced with poison. Police officials said the poachers threw the poisonous grains at a nearby pond where the birds come to quench their thirst.
"We have ordered an enquiry. We will track down the poachers and catch them," a police official said. Later, the dead birds were shifted to a veterinary hospital for an autopsy.
More than 50 peacocks have been killed in the last two years in the district. At Kalwakota village in Medipally mandal, 22 peacocks were found dead on May 31, 2009. In Chandurthi mandal, two peacocks were killed by poachers on September 14, 2009. On April 29 last year, seven peacocks were allegedly killed by hunters at Bejjanki mandal. In August last, 11 peacocks were found dead in Korutla.
Shockingly, no action has been taken against the poachers till now despite the spurt in the killings of the birds. "Every time birds are killed, the officials promise tough action. But, precious little has been done to instil fear among the poachers," a wildlife enthusiast of Korutla said.
