Mystery shrouds peacock deaths at Gurgaon village

A month after nearly a dozen peacocks were found dead in mysterious circumstances at Hasanpur village in the Aravalis here, a fresh case of mass deaths has come to light. Deevakar Anand reports.

A month after nearly a dozen peacocks were found dead in mysterious circumstances at Hasanpur village in the Aravalis here, a fresh case of mass deaths has come to light.

HT Image

The latest incident has been reported from Kasan village adjoining the Industrial Model Township (IMT) Manesar, around 20 kilometres from Gurgaon. Although officials have denied any deaths, HT visited the area and found that at least 10 peacocks died in the last four days. More than 20 birds have been reported sick, with some in a very critical condition.

Villagers buried the carcasses of the dead birds, fearing they would be "eaten by dogs and cats". Peacocks come under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act-1972 and can be buried only by wildlife officials after ascertaining the circumstances that led to their deaths.

Villagers informed veterinary doctors about the deaths only on Wednesday evening.

Government veterinary doctors said heat stroke caused the deaths. But villagers are questioning the explanation as the weather has been pleasant because of rains in the past week.

Dr Neetu Gundlee, a surgeon at Manesar veterinary hospital who attended the sick birds, said, "It appears that they are suffering from heat stroke and we have administered them antibiotics and vitamins."

The sick birds have been taken to the People for Animal (PFA)-run veterinary hospital at Sadhrana and wildlife SOS centre near Sultanpur lake. Gurgaon district forest officer (wildlife) Kulvinder Singh ruled out any foul play. Though HT found buried carcasses of peacocks, Singh denied any bird was buried.

Locals say there are five cell phone towers barely a few metres from where the birds died and claim harmful radiation caused the deaths. Senior government veterinary doctors ruled out any such possibility.

Residents say this is the first time such an incident has been reported from the area. "The birds have been here for several years but we can't recall any mass mortality," said a villager Rajbeer.