The peacocks, which normally live in the forest, roam like pet birds in Chenchu Colony of Timmapur Grama Panchayat in Chandampet mandal. So much so, that the villagers take them in their lap to feed them. As they regularly enter homes, villagers keep some water on the premises to help them quench their thirst.
A villager, Ch. Bakkaiah, says that the birds have started entering villages since last summer, apparently owing to water scarcity in the forest area.
As the villagers keep water in containers for cattle in the sheds, he says they have become regular guests to the village.
“Women and children also feed the national bird. Slowly, peacocks have started moving about in the village without any fear because they sense no harm,” he says.
Some birds sleep on trees in the village even during the night.
Another woman, D. Lingamma, says the birds visit their house regularly and are fed grains.
The guests to Chenchu Colony are taken by surprise on seeing the birds moving like pets in the village.
The forest officials say that the presence of peacock and peahen has multiplied in recent years in the district.
Forest Range Officer S. Srinivas said that the population of peafowl has multiplied as they have educated people over its protection in recent years. People also understood that killing or harming the national bird is a serious crime.
Despite creating some water bodies in the forest area, in addition to existing natural bodies, Mr. Srinivas said that the birds often enter human habitations whenever the natural water bodies dry up.
However, he said people living in the forest fringes hand over the national bird to the forest officials or the local police, which they release into forest again.
The village is located very close to Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
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