Seeks Action To Curb Illegal Sale of Peacock Feathers The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has issued an office memorandum calling for an urgent need to ensure adequate protection to peacocks. The memorandum issued by S K Khanduri, inspector general of forests (wildlife), has sought necessary action to curb the trade of illegally obtained peacock feathers and undertake periodical checks in the stocks of dealers. Samples should be subjected to forensic investigation for identifying their origin ie, wheth er they were taken from a live or poached bird or naturally shed, it said. Also, the MoEF memorandum has requested the authorities concerned to take measures to ensure that the national bird is not killed for its feathers. “We have not seen any such cases in the recent past. People here associate a religious faith with the bird, moreover it is the national bird,“ said Peechi sanctuary wildlife warden Y M Shai Kumar. He said that the birds have increased in numbers and are frequently sighted. “It is high time we did a study on why there is such an increase on this side of the Western Ghats. It is normally seen on the eastern side. But as it is a bird totally under protection, people are catching and bringing it to us to leave it back into its habitat,“ said Dr R Sugathan, ornithologist, Thattekkad bird sanctuary , Ernakulam. Sugathan said that the bird has moved out of its habitat and is now seen even in town areas, probably in search of food.