Six peahens found dead in Sector 52, poisoning suspected
Six peahens were found dead on Tuesday morning adjacent to a residential complex in Sector 52 , in close proximity to a popular bird feeding spot, near the Kholiwaale Baba temple, wildlife officials said
Six peahens were found dead on Tuesday morning adjacent to a residential complex in Sector 52 , in close proximity to a popular bird feeding spot, near the Kholiwaale Baba temple, wildlife officials said.
Six peahens found dead in Sector 52, poisoning suspected
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An environmentalist alerted the police and the wildlife department after he spotted the dead birds. Harvinder Singh Minhas, a resident of Suncity residential complex, said he, his wife and a friend were passing by the area when they spotted the dead birds. “They were lying dead in different locations and there were no injury marks. The wildlife officials were alerted. The place was littered with grains meant for feeding birds,” he said.
Officials said one member of their team will be deployed at the spot to ensure that no more grain is thrown in the area, adding that they do not rule out the possibility of poisoning.
Wildlife inspector Rajesh Chahal said they received a call around 10am and a team was rushed to the spot. “The six dead peahens were found lying within a 50-metre radius. Our preliminary probe has revealed that they died due to a fungal infection,” he said.
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Chahal said they have sent the birds to the Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences pathology laboratory in Hisar to ascertain whether the peahens died of poisoning. “The autopsy will be conducted by a board of veterinary doctors,” he said.
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Chahal said they have sent the birds to the Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences pathology laboratory in Hisar to ascertain whether the peahens died of poisoning. “The autopsy will be conducted by a board of veterinary doctors,” he said.
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Chahal further said the grains were possibly coated with pesticides. “We have collected the grains and have sent them to a lab for testing. Our team will visit the area on a regular basis for a few days to spread awareness among the residents,” he said.
Residents living nearby regularly feed birds, especially peacocks and peahens, said officials.
Peacocks come under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act,1972, which makes them an endangered species and prohibits their hunting except under threat to human life.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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