19 peacocks found dead in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district, poisoning suspected

In a disturbing development from Karnataka’s Tumakuru district, 19 peacocks have been found dead in Hanumanthapura village of Madhugiri taluka over the past two days. The deceased birds, comprising 14 females and five males, were discovered scattered across agricultural fields by local farmers during routine visits.

Also read: Spike in tiger deaths raises alarm in Karnataka: 18 lost in 15 months

Preliminary investigations by forest officials point toward suspected poisoning, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed. The first dead peacock was spotted near Kere Kodi waterfall on Saturday, with more carcasses located later in nearby fields. The remains were handed over to the Animal Husbandry Department for forensic examination.

Recurring wildlife fatalities and human-animal conflict 

This latest incident adds to a concerning rise in unnatural wildlife deaths across Karnataka. In July, 20 monkeys were found dead in Chamarajanagar district under suspicious circumstances, with poisoning again suspected. A month prior, a tigress and her four cubs perished in Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary after consuming a poisoned cow carcass laced with a toxic pesticide. The incident led to the arrest of three villagers believed to have tampered with the carcass.

Further investigations into the tiger deaths also exposed administrative negligence. Salaries for forest watchers had not been disbursed for three consecutive months, prompting protests. The probe highlighted that the forest department failed to release payments despite funds being available, reflecting deeper systemic issues in wildlife protection efforts.

The recurring wildlife fatalities raise urgent concerns about conservation enforcement and human-animal conflict in the region.

Also read: 

1. Bengaluru: Three tiger cubs die at Bannerghatta Park amid concerns over animal care
2. Tiger death case: Four suspects detained, poisoning angle not ruled out
3. Karnataka sees 183% surge in human-wildlife conflicts over five years