Population of peacocks rising by 10% every year

HYDERABAD:  Population of peacocks is increasing due to protection by the forest department and growing awareness in public on poaching of birds being a non-bailable offence.Since 2005 peacock population has been increasing 10 per cent every year in and around Hyderabad because of measures taken by AP forest officials, said state forest range officer Raja Ramana Reddy. Though no census has been conducted to confirm it, Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali, Mrugavani and Kasu Brahmananda Reddy national parks within Hyderabad limits with adjoining rural areas have begun to show growth in their peacock population which is about 5000 to 5500.Conservator of forests D Sudhakar Reddy said that awareness levels among general public on stringent action being taken by department officials against poachers is the real reason for population growth of peacocks. Captive breeding at Nehru Zoological Park and artificial breeding at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) too paid off. Animal Welfare Board, Blue Cross of Hyderabad and other non-governmental organisations' campaigns for protection of endangered animals and bird species has also been one of the reasons for peacock population growth across Andhra Pradesh. As per Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, any person trapping, possessing, hunting or killing any endangered animal or bird is a non-bailable offence. Forest range officer A Shekar Reddy from Tirupati said, "Continuous rains and a balanced atmosphere in the past few years have made food available for peacocks in thick and small forests and parks."However, according to Raja Ramana Reddy, poaching is still on at a few places. About 25 peacocks were seized in the past from city residents. About 150 cases have been booked in the last one year for trapping and harming peacocks and other wild animals.