Karnataka - Bijapur   

Peacock park in peril

Staff Correspondent

APATHY; A peacock searching for grains in Buthnal park near Bijapur

BIJAPUR: After the deer park it now seems to be turn of the peacock park. The park of national bird adjacent to Buthnal Tank on the city outskirts is facing the threat of extinction, thanks to apathy of the administration.

Not long ago, there were over 50 peacocks and peahens. Visitors used to flock to the park on weekends.

However, now it hardly attracts visitors as the number of birds has come down to 15. Even these left out are struggling to survive owing to lack of proper food and care. Most of them have lost their "eyed" feathers that make them distinct from other birds.

A member of watchman family housed in the sanctuary said there had not been any exclusive staff to look after the birds.

Neither was there enough allocation of funds.

Hence, authorities had no interest to continue the park. However, they had been somehow managing it. In most days, they feed the birds out of the foodgrain quota meant for the family.

While the rabbit and monkey houses were closed down long ago, the deer park, which was another star attraction, met the same fate four years ago.

People of Bijapur were ecstatic on November 11, 1987, when the then Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde inaugurated the deer park. Shriram Pingle, a veteran journalist, who attended the function, recalls the festive atmosphere on the occasion. Warm welcome given by cheering children and greenery patch pleased the dignitaries, including the then Minister for Forests, G.S. Bagalkot, who presided over the function.

The Chief Minister said people of Bijapur were lucky to have such an amazing picnic spot, and asked then Conservator of Forests, Belgaum Zone, and other officials who were present there, to maintain the park well. They responded affirmatively.

Bird loving people want that at least peacock park should not be allowed go the deer park way.

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