Odisha's Pakidi hills, where peafowls roam fearlessly as villagers stand guard

Bhubaneswar: Come monsoon, and the greens taken on the brighter shades with patches of purple at Pakidi hills near Aska in Ganjam district as peafowls dance displaying their plumage in all grace. It is a sight to behold!

A protected forest area spread over 480 hectares and part of Ghumsar south division forest, Pakidi is a perfect example of how everything in nature is interdependent for survival. And the peafowl population that it hosts is what makes it special.

Read on to know the amazing facts about community conservation practice in these hills.

Picture courtesy: Tara Mahapatra/Facebook

An example of participatory conservation, Pakidi is surrounded by seven villages -  Subhachandrapur, Ambuabadi, Kerikerijhola, Bharatapalli, Cheramarai, Sameiguda, Karanauli, who collectively work for the protection of the National Bird of India.

Picture courtesy: Tara Mahapatra/Facebook

The villagers here have been protecting the bird for the past 20 years. However, Ganjam Peacock Protection Committee (Ganjam Mayur Surakhya Samiti) was formed only in 2005.

Picture courtesy: Tara Mahapatra/Facebook

For their commendable contribution in protecting the national bird, the committee has been conferred with the Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation.

Picture courtesy: Tara Mahapatra/Facebook

Villagers say that it is the most beautiful bird and there are religious sentiments attached to it. Besides, peacocks are natural seed disseminator and best pest controller.

Picture courtesy: Tara Mahapatra/Facebook

There's almost zero poaching in Pakidi. Villagers conduct an informal set of rotational patrolling at night so as to check theft and poaching. Their efforts are apparent in the ocular estimates that say around 1500 peacocks can be found in these hills.

Picture courtesy: Tara Mahapatra/Facebook

To save the birds from dying of thirst, the villagers provide water to them on a rotational basis. Women and children place pitchers filled with water after every 1-2 km where peafowls can slake their need for water. The Forest Department has also built a water tank for the peafowls.

Picture courtesy: Tara Mahapatra/Facebook

Other than the majestic peafowls, bear, barking deer, hyena, and wolfs are other animals that you can spot in Pakidi.

Picture courtesy: Tara Mahapatra/Facebook

In 2011, 10 peacocks had reportedly died of poisoning because of the use of pesticides in the cotton fields they feed on. Things are better now, though.