• Source:JND
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Peacock Feathers Sale:  The central probe agency, CBI, on Tuesday, arrested three suspects who were trying to smuggle 125-kilogram peacock feathers to Bangkok, said the officials. The agency also alleged that the national bird's feathers were unnaturally plucked, often resulting in the deaths of the peacocks. CBI's action came after the customs officials informed them about a consignment with peacock feathers to Bangkok.

Three nabbed, search for more

The Central investigative agency has arrested three alleged international smugglers in the case under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, said the officials. The arrested accused are identified as Sagar, Rahul and Bhanu Pratap Singh, while the probe agency has begun a probe to uncover the gang.

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"The CBI registered a case on a complaint against four Delhi-based accused and others on allegations that all the accused were taking peacock feathers to Bangkok...The trafficking of these is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972. The accused were allegedly found in possession of around 125 kg of peacock feathers," the agency's spokesperson said.

Is carrying, storing, selling and exporting peacock feathers illegal in India?

Peacock is India's national bird and hence it has protection under the schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The killing of a bird or the export of its feathers is banned under section 51 (1-A) of the act. However, 43(3)(a) and section 44 of the act allow domestic trade in feathers or articles if they are naturally shed.

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In the last few years, the population of national birds has gone down significantly due to the loophole in the act. Usually, it is hard to distinguish the artificially shed feathers and the naturally shed peacock feathers.

According to a wildlife NGO, Beauty Without Cruelty, a 2008 study by Traffic India suggests that around 20 million peacock tail feathers are traded in annually.