By IANS
Mor (Rajasthan) : This is a village that lives up to its name, in every which way. Mor, in India’s desert state of Rajasthan, has 1,500 peacocks living in harmony with the villagers.
Sighting India’s national bird may have become increasingly rare in Rajasthan, but not in Mor, the Hindi word for peacock, about 500 km from the state capital Jaipur.
According to village lore, the family of Lasiyaji Gharawat from a village in Madhya Pradesh was the first to come and settle in this area years ago. On seeing the dense forests and the large number of peacocks inhabiting the place, they named the village Mor.
“In a recent census, the place was found to be home to over 1,500 peacocks. Due to the good climate this year, the number of peacocks has multiplied and one can see many baby peacocks,” a forest official told IANS.
Villagers consider peacocks their family members. The birds, with their multi-hued plumes, walk in and out of courtyards fearlessly, proving the affinity the people have towards them.
And their safety is of prime concern.
“Peacocks have given recognition to our village and their safety is the concern of every person in the village. Villages even decorate their cattle with peacock feathers. The government should declare the area a peacock park,” said Alkoo Bhai, a villager.
“No poaching is reported from the area and we always keep a watch. All the villagers care for them,” said Pappu, another villager.
According to a recent survey by animal rights group People For Animals, as many as 10 peacocks are killed on an average every day in the state.