M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Aug 28: Forest guards of the Garu east range of the Tiger Reserve in Palamu bought three peachicks for Rs 500.
Notably, their owner Mahadev Parhaiya’s family refused to part with any of the peachicks saying they had reared it and hence were ready to sell it if need be. With no other option remaining, the PTR guards decided to buy the peachick for Rs 500.
This has been confirmed by one of the forest guards Arun Kumar who had struck this deal.
Kumar said, “Mahadev Parhaiya’s family had brought the eggs of a peahen from the protected forest of Haratu and then got these eggs incubated by the hen in the family.”
“This primitive tribal family began to rear these peachicks like the chicks of their hen. The family did not even know that it is illegal to have peacocks, peahens or peachicks,” said the forest guard Kumar.
On being asked why pay Rs 500 for only three peachicks, the forest guard said, “It is to win their trust. The family did spend their hard earned money on these chicks. We just bailed the family out of its expenditures made for the chicks.”
The forest guard Kumar said, “We went to this primitive tribal family masquerading as customers of his hens.” He further added that the family first agreed to sell some of its hens but all of a sudden sensing some problem they declined.”
“We soon spotted the peachicks and decided to buy them as the family was vehemently refusing to part with the peachicks,” recalled the forest guard.
Mukesh Kumar deputy director South division of PTR said that villagers often pick eggs of peahens in jungles and get them hatched. Kumar further said the good thing is that the villagers do not spoil the eggs.
