Extinct peacock discovered in Krabi

19 Dec 2011

A living peacock found in Krabi last week is one of a bird species thought to have died out in this region of Thailand. Jamrad Kuannakorn was working in a Khao Kram District rubber plantation early on Tuesday morning when he heard a loud crowing noise.

The rubber tapper and his wife investigated and found the source of the unusual noise was a large peacock perched on the branch of a rubber tree. Mr Kuannakorn said that the startled peacock flew away and tried to hide itself behind a big rock.

The man said that they managed to catch the large bird and chain it up. They then informed the plantation proprietor who in turn called in the local police force. Inspector Sutthichai Tienpoe took possession of the colourfully plumaged peacock and handed it over to the local branch of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

An official attached to the ministry said initial investigations had revealed the peacock weighed four kilogrammes and was probably an indigenous Asian Indian peafowl. The official said this species was extinct in Krabi and had probably come from a nearby region.

Although this particular avian species no longer exists in the wilds in Krabi, there are several housed in public zoos and also in private menageries. The Environment Ministry said this peacock would first be taken to a local wildlife sanctuary, before possibly being released into a suitable habitat in the wild.

Tags: Extinct peacock discovered