Lok Sabha Question No. 4254 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Number of Peacocks
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: C.N. Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.  4254

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2019.

## Number of Peacocks

## 4254.   SHRI C. N. ANNADURAI:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether peacock has been declared as national bird of our country and if so, the date of such a declaration;
- (b) the areas, where such birds are found in large numbers in the country;
- (c) the total number of such birds in the country along with the time by when the last census of national bird was undertaken;
- (d) whether taming and poaching of peacock is punishable under the  Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, if so, the quantum of punishment/fine for such offence along with the steps taken to protect such birds from such illegal activity; and
- (e) whether  any  directives  have  been  issued  by  the  Union  Government  to  States/UTs  to provide shelter to these birds in public gardens, national parks, botanical gardens that are maintained by State/local authorities and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) The  Government  of  India  had  notified  Peacock  as  'National  Bird'.    As  the  said notification of the Government of India was not forthcoming in the official records of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for quite some time, the Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change,  Government  of  India  renotified  Peacock as National Bird of India on 30 th May 2011.
- (b) and (c) Peacocks  are  commonly  found  birds,  both  inside  forest  areas  as  well  as  in agricultural or human habitations. Management and  protection of  wildlife including birds is carried out by the concerned State/Union Territory Governments. Population estimation with respect to certain flagship species/mega fauna is carried out by the State/Union Territory Governments at periodic intervals. The State/Union Territorywise population of peacocks are not collated in the Ministry.
- (d) and (e) Peacocks are listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby according  them  the  highest  degree  of  protection.    Hunting  (including  capture  and killing) of Peacocks is prohibited as per the provisions of Section 9 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

As per the proviso under Section 51 (1) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972,  in case  the offence relates to animal specified in schedule I or part II of schedule II or the meat of such animal, animal article, trophy, or uncured trophy derived from such animal  or  hunting in Sanctuary  or National Park, shall be  punishable with imprisonment of  not less than 3 years extendable to 7 and also with a fine not less than Rs. 10,000/-  and in the  second or subsequent offence of above nature shall be punishable with imprisonment of not less than 3 extendable to 7 years and also with a fine not less than Rs. 25,000/-.

The  important  steps  taken  for  protection  of    such  birds  include:  Wildlife  Crime Control Bureau has been set up to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles, including peacocks, and to achieve interstate and trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws. Besides, the Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  also  provides  for  forfeiture  of  any  equipment, vehicle  or  weapon  that  is  used  for  committing  wildlife  offence(s).  The  Law enforcement  authorities  in  the  States  maintain  strict  vigil  against  poaching  of peacocks.

The State/Union Territory Governments are empowered under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection), 1972 for creation of National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation  reserves  and  Community  Reserves.  The  Ministry  of  Environment, Forest  and  Climate  Change  provides  financial  and    technical  assistance  to  the State/UT Governments for management of wildlife and its habitat.