Increase in Peacock Population in Odisha’sPakidi Hills

Context

A boom in the local peacock population is observed in the Pakidi hills.

• It is said to be increased due to the lockdown and partly due to the efforts of local villagers.

About the boom in peacock population

• The peacock population co-exists with the human in packed hills.
  • Pakidi hills lie near Aska in Ganjam district, Odisha.
• The peacock population in the hill area has increased due to multiple reasons
  • Good forest cover in the hill area
  • lack of forest fires
  • Due to lockdown the reduction in air and noise pollution
  • awareness generation
  • Conservation Committees
    • Ganjam Peacock Protection Committee (GanjamMayurSurakhyaSamiti) was formed only in 2005.
    • The committee had received the prestigious BijuPatnaik Award,in 2006, for Wildlife Conservation.
    • It is the highest award in the state for protecting wildlife.
• Participatory conservation
  • Pakidi is surrounded by seven villages –  Subhachandrapur, Ambuabadi, Kerikerijhola, Bharatapalli, Cheramarai, Sameiguda, Karanauli, who collectively work for the protection of the National Bird of India.