Editor,
Green peafowl (Pavo muticus), a majestic, endangered species of peafowls that are cousins of the more abundant and least concerned blue peafowl or Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), the National Bird of India is most possibly extinct in its wild habitats of North East India. The green peafowls have been the glory of the unspeakable beauty and grandeur of the North East, predominantly Manipur and Mizoram at one point of time. The species is currently believed to be extinct in the wilds in Southern China, North East India and Bangladesh as part of its former range and presently restricted only to small pockets of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. Relentless anthropogenic pressures in the form of over hunting, capture for colorful plumage and habitat destruction are believed to be the major factors responsible for the loss of the species in the wild. In India, the species was previously found in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram and its distribution in Assam is not well recorded. However, there are no reliable reports of last sighting of the species ever in its core wild habitats of Manipur and Mizoram for over a decade. The only live specimens are available in the Manipur Zoological Garden at Imphal. Based on my research, this is the only zoo in the entire India where green peafowl specimens are available for public display. Since this species was once known from the spectacularly beautiful North East India, it is important to educate the people of the region about their lost treasures from a glorious and organic past. It is painful to find such a beautiful species being lost in the wilds; and hence I humbly wish to advocate for addressing the concerned authorities through your esteemed daily to start a comprehensive captive breeding program for the species in North East for slowly returning the species back to its original habitat in the Indian subcontinent. Breeding population could be acquired through neighbouring Myanmar and other South East Asian countries ?maintaining wild populations. Both green and blue peafowls and their hybrids are available in the EU and the US international pet markets as a colourful and attractive caged species. The breeding of the species is reported to be considerably easy and hassle free and should be looked upon as a viable alternative to return the species to the wilds of North East India.
Yours etc.
, Saikat Kumar Basu
Lethbridge AB Canada
