Indian government prohibits domestic trade in peacock feathers

[Guest guest]

*Just to state, peacocks come right inside my office premises. It is quite

astonishing to see these birds at handshaking distance almost every day in

and around the office. They are not afraid of humans.*

**

*FRONT PAGE* | Tuesday, May 11, 2010 | Email <javascript:void();> |

Print<javascript:void();>|

 

 

*Ban on ‘morpankh’ sale a feather in Govt’s cap*

 

*Pioneer News Service | New Delhi*

 

Nearly 50 years after declaring it India’s national bird, the Centre has

finally woken up to the cause of the peacock.

 

The Environment Ministry on Monday said it would ban the trade, sale and

transport of peacock feathers, popularly known as morpankh. It would amend

Sections in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, that prohibit killing of the

endangered species but allow domestic trade in feathers on the assumption

they are naturally shed.

 

For long, there have been demands for banning the trade of peacock feathers.

“However, the Ministry is now alarmed that the demand for the feathers, tail

feathers in particular, far outstrips the supply. This is leading to rampant

poaching and killing of the national bird,” an Environment Ministry official

said.

 

The Ministry now proposes to amend Section 43(3)(a) and Section 44 of the

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, relating to the transfer and sale of peacock

tail feathers. It is intended to prevent the illegal trapping and killing of

the national bird for its tail feathers.

 

Currently, the Act prohibits the killing of peacocks as well as export of

tail feathers or articles made from the bird. However, the Act allows

domestic trade in feathers or articles under the assumption that these are

naturally shed.

 

Following the amendment, Section 43(3)(a) and Section 44 will no longer

exempt those possessing a certificate of ownership for peacocks from

transferring or selling tail feather and articles or trophies made from

them. While a comprehensive ban on the sale, transfer and trade of peacock

feathers would be imposed, the Ministry has invited suggestions and

objections so as to come out with an ordinance for amendments. “The issue is

likely to be finalised within a month,” sources said.

 

Over the years, wildlife activists have been raising an alarm over the

rapidly dwindling peacock population. Though one cannot hazard a guess about

the exact number, the official said it is understood India has lost more

than half its peacock population since Independence. Peacock was declared

India’s national bird in 1963, but the Government is yet to conduct a

peacock census.

 

Peacocks are poached for numerous reasons, be it for their meat or feathers.

Feathers of the male peacock are generally in much demand. “There’s also

this belief among many that keeping peacock feathers at home brings good

luck,” the official added.

 

Environment contamination and peacocks being killed on the belief that its

body fat serves medicinal purposes are also among the reasons for the

rapidly declining population of the national bird.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/255080/Ban-on-%E2%80%98morpankh%E2%80%99-sale-a-feat\

her-in-Govt%E2%80%99s-cap.html

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Message from Mr Naresh Kadyan. It appears to be a great victory for his

petitions.

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Kadyan <kadyan.ipfa

Tue, May 11, 2010 at 2:30 PM

Re: Indian government prohibits domestic trade in peacock

feathers

 

 

 

*great victory*

*on my petition*

*

*

* me: http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Peacock_ban.pdf*

* Sent at 1:17 AM on Tuesday*

* me:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/peacock-is-shocked-in-india-bird-in-danger*

*

*

* me:

http://animals.change.org/petitions/view/peacock_is_shocked_in_india_ban_its_fea\

thers_trade_-naresh_kadyan

*

 

 

On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 11:27 PM, <

journalistandanimals wrote:

 

> *Just to state, peacocks come right inside my office premises. It is quite

>

> astonishing to see these birds at handshaking distance almost every day in

> and around the office. They are not afraid of humans.*

> **

> *FRONT PAGE* | Tuesday, May 11, 2010 | Email <javascript:void();> |

> Print<javascript:void();>|

>

>

> *Ban on ‘morpankh’ sale a feather in Govt’s cap*

>

>

> *Pioneer News Service | New Delhi*

>

> Nearly 50 years after declaring it India’s national bird, the Centre has

> finally woken up to the cause of the peacock.

>

> The Environment Ministry on Monday said it would ban the trade, sale and

> transport of peacock feathers, popularly known as morpankh. It would amend

> Sections in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, that prohibit killing of the

> endangered species but allow domestic trade in feathers on the assumption

> they are naturally shed.

>

> For long, there have been demands for banning the trade of peacock

> feathers.

> “However, the Ministry is now alarmed that the demand for the feathers,

> tail

> feathers in particular, far outstrips the supply. This is leading to

> rampant

> poaching and killing of the national bird,†an Environment Ministry

> official

> said.

>

> The Ministry now proposes to amend Section 43(3)(a) and Section 44 of the

> Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, relating to the transfer and sale of peacock

> tail feathers. It is intended to prevent the illegal trapping and killing

> of

> the national bird for its tail feathers.

>

> Currently, the Act prohibits the killing of peacocks as well as export of

> tail feathers or articles made from the bird. However, the Act allows

> domestic trade in feathers or articles under the assumption that these are

> naturally shed.

>

> Following the amendment, Section 43(3)(a) and Section 44 will no longer

> exempt those possessing a certificate of ownership for peacocks from

> transferring or selling tail feather and articles or trophies made from

> them. While a comprehensive ban on the sale, transfer and trade of peacock

> feathers would be imposed, the Ministry has invited suggestions and

> objections so as to come out with an ordinance for amendments. “The issue

> is

> likely to be finalised within a month,†sources said.

>

> Over the years, wildlife activists have been raising an alarm over the

> rapidly dwindling peacock population. Though one cannot hazard a guess

> about

> the exact number, the official said it is understood India has lost more

> than half its peacock population since Independence. Peacock was declared

> India’s national bird in 1963, but the Government is yet to conduct a

> peacock census.

>

> Peacocks are poached for numerous reasons, be it for their meat or

> feathers.

> Feathers of the male peacock are generally in much demand. “There’s also

> this belief among many that keeping peacock feathers at home brings good

> luck,†the official added.

>

> Environment contamination and peacocks being killed on the belief that its

> body fat serves medicinal purposes are also among the reasons for the

> rapidly declining population of the national bird.

>

>

http://www.dailypioneer.com/255080/Ban-on-%E2%80%98morpankh%E2%80%99-sale-a-feat\

her-in-Govt%E2%80%99s-cap.html