Nine peacock carcasses found in Rajasthan field

Nine carcasses of national bird peacock were found in an agriculture field in Bachola village of Rajasthan's Nainwa subdivision, officials said.

The birds are suspected to have been poisoned by poachers, Assistant Conservator of Forests (Nainwa range), Jairam Pandey, said, adding that a post-mortem would be conducted on Friday to confirm the cause of death.

Pandey said that locals in Bachola village informed forest officials on Thursday that they had found peacock carcasses scattered in an agricultural field.

There is a tomato cultivation nearby and pesticide was reportedly sprayed over the crop recently, Pandey said as he pointed out that the birds may have likely consumed the pesticide-coated leaves or fruits, leading to death.

He, however, stated that no sign or evidence of the birds having been intentionally poisoned or killed was found at the spot. But the possibility that they were poisoned to death by poachers cannot be ruled out, he added.