Peacock is a protected bird under the Wildlife Protection Act, and killing it can lead to imprisonment.
In a significant move, Forest Department officials have taken action against a YouTuber from Thangallapalli village in Rajanna Sircilla district for sharing a controversial video titled “traditional peacock curry.” The video provoked outrage among netizens and animal rights activists, resulting in demands for strict penalties against the individual for promoting the illegal killing of the peacock, India’s national bird, which is protected under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2022.
The Forest Department conducted a raid on the YouTuber’s residence on Sunday, where they detained him and seized a curry along with various chicken feathers. The suspect claimed that he had prepared chicken curry and used the term “peacock” in the video title solely for garnering attention and increasing views.
Kalpana Devi, the Forest Range Officer, confirmed to the media that the curry has been sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine its meat content. Any activities that promote the killing or exploitation of wildlife are subject to strict legal consequences.
