Tamil Nadu: 28 peafowls found dead under mysterious circumstance in Tuticorin

MADURAI: Twenty-eight peafowls were found dead under mysterious circumstances in cultivable lands between Pilayarnatham and Andipatti villages near Kovilpatti in Tuticorin district on Wednesday. Corn, maize, green gram and pulses are cultivated in the area and it is suspected that the peacocks and peahens could have consumed seeds with pesticides. Forest department personnel are conducting a probe to find if they were purposely poisoned.
Seeing the peafowls dead in their fields farmer gathered the carcass and informed the forest department in Kovilpatti and the animal husbandry department.Preliminary inquiry revealed that it is the beginning of the crop season and some farmers mix seeds with pesticide to avert early damage to the crops while some mix it with DAP for good growth and the birds could have consumed the seeds.
Veterinarian Kanimozhi from Ilayarasanendal veterinary hospital conducted autopsy on the birds and collected vital samples to be sent for forensic analysis to ascertain the cause of their deaths. After autopsy she told reporters that indigested corn was found in the stomach of the birds. Forest range officer Sivaram said that action will be taken on the farmer(s) who had laced seeds with poison.
The forest department asked farmers to carryout agricultural activities that do not cause harm to peafowl and other birds.