In the morning, before the grinding of heavy machinery, a different kind of echo is heard in the granite center of Kuppam in Chittoor district. In Kuppam – where Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu meet on a jagged border – the remains of granite quarrying are fast disappearing in the face of spectacular scenery. Peacocks have taken over the mines, turning the landscape of blasted rock into an impossible sanctuary of iridescent blue and shrill cries.
Gudupalle to Ramakuppam From the granite hills of Shantipuram to the scrubby forests of Kuppam, home to flocks of peacocks, the national bird has become a center of conservation.
Kuppam residents cite various reasons for the increase in bird numbers over the years, such as suitable climatic conditions and the protective nature of local farmers. Locals say the birds have become an integral part of the landscape in every corner of the rural and semi-urban areas, while village elders consider this development an extraordinary achievement achieved by the people of Kuppam.
On the outskirts of Gudupalle, Chelmiganipalle, Nadimut, Dasegoniyur, Kothapalli and several villages around the Kuppam constituency, peacocks are often seen moving closer to human habitation, as they sometimes perch on trees, spreading their iridescent blue and green long tails, which residents claim to be an “attractive sight”.
P. Murali Krishna Reddy, professor of English at Dravidian University in Kuppam, says nothing captures the imagination more than the peacock dance seen before and during the south-west monsoon. He said, “We have a large number of peacocks on our campus. Seeing them from a distance, flying from tree to tree and rock to rock is an experience that strengthens the feeling of love for nature among both the faculty and students.”
‘Peacocks outnumber humans’
Referring to the increasing population of this species, the youth says in a light tone, “There are villages where the number of peacocks is more than that of humans.” Although there has been no official count of the peacock population, according to forest officials, the count of the national bird has increased significantly in Kuppam and not elsewhere in the Rayalaseema region.
During peak summer, peacocks were often seen gathering near village tanks, farm ponds, irrigation sources and Kuppam branch canal areas. Kangundi area, then zamindari The region headquarters, a few kilometers from Kuppam, is the best place to see peacocks.
Lakshminarayana, a senior journalist from Kuppam, said, “Their (peacocks’) appearance is especially mesmerizing during the breeding season, when the males occupy high rocky areas and display their spectacular trains.”
In recent years, all the four mandals of Kuppam assembly constituency, Kuppam, Ramakuppam, Gudupalle and Shantipuram, have become ideal habitats for breeding peacocks. Peacocks are seen in Kangundi Reserve Forest, Madanapalle Road stretch, Bairupalle border road, Kuppam-Mallanur road and rural roads leading to Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka.
“Although it is difficult to pin down any figures, we can say that peacocks are everywhere. One thing is for sure, the landscape of Kuppam is definitely a very safe haven for the national bird. There is no record of cases of poaching. Farmers do not harm the birds,” said G., District Forest Officer (Chittoor). Subburaj says.
mythology a factor
Linking the development to mythology, Mr. Subburaj says, “The religious sentiment attached to the peacock is that, according to Indian mythology, the bird was the sacred vehicle of Lord Muruga, known to the people of Andhra Pradesh as Subramanya Swamy, which protects him from falling prey to poaching. To attest to the importance of these birds, there are some notable Murugan temples in the region, including the Gudivanka temple.”
Temples in Kuppam and surrounding Tamil-speaking settlements maintain strong Muruga traditions. Pilgrims traveling between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu often stop at these shrines. Many elders narrate stories of peacocks mysteriously appearing near the temple complex during festivals dedicated to Muruga. Whether seen as faith or as folklore, such beliefs have played an important role in protecting birds.
Temple of Lord Muruga at Gudivanka near Kuppam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
decreasing number of hunters
Although poaching of peacocks was negligible in the region, the peacock population in Kuppam has increased due to hunting of foxes, the major predator of the national bird in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu.
“Another important reason for the flourishing of peacocks in Kuppam is the ruthless hunting of the little fox or the Bengal fox for its teeth and bones by some forest dwellers in the north-western part of Tamil Nadu, which is believed to bring prosperity. This species of fox is the major predator of peacocks which destroys eggs, chicks and even injures them,” said the district forest officer, adding that the dwindling number of foxes has resulted in The number of peacocks has decreased. Species in Kuppam, which borders Tamil Nadu.
Expanding on what Mr. Subburaj commented, 76-year-old Gunaswamy, a Kuppam resident who was earlier a luggage porter at Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore railway station, said the “Vanga Nari Jallikattu” ritual in the north-western districts of Tamil Nadu, especially Salem, Namakkal and Dharmapuri areas, had disrupted the Bengal fox species, which became a boon for peacocks.
“The slender fox species, although not directly preying on peacocks, is important in breaking down the houses of birds in the forests, preying on eggs and their young. As part of a rural ritual conducted to invoke divine blessings for rain and agricultural prosperity, young foxes go in search of foxes, roam the countryside and return with the animals. This ritual involves worshiping the foxes and wearing garlands. However, the foxes are later driven out of the forests. They are left behind, but they rarely survive due to severe injuries and exhaustion,” explains Gunaswamy.
a blessing and a curse
Despite being the national bird with religious significance, the peacock is not always welcomed with enthusiasm. Farmers complain that they damage the crops. Groundnut, ragi, horse gram, sunflower, pulses, maize and vegetable crops are particularly vulnerable. Newly sown fields attract birds in large numbers. “Peacocks are notorious for uprooting tender plants and eating emerging crops. We spend hours guarding the fields during the sowing season,” said Bhupathi, a vegetable farmer in Ramakuppam.
However, in contrast, some farmers consider peacocks to be protectors of crops, as they eat large numbers of insects, termites, beetles, small rodents and even snakes, and credit the birds with keeping pest populations under control.
El Nino conditions affected birds
With reports of El Nino predictions, residents say it seems the peacock was aware of the current weather patterns in advance.
A resident said, “Normally, we are used to the sound of peacocks from the last week of May. This year, their cries are more loud, tinged with despair. Unlike previous years, Kuppam witnessed high temperatures since March. As we travel on the dusty roads, the meow-like sounds of peacocks are full of anguish, reflecting their desperate wait for rain.”
A lawyer and social worker, 31-year-old A. Narendra says that the increasing presence of peacocks in the area should not be seen as regular movement of birds. He further said, this clearly indicates increasing pressure on natural habitats due to water scarcity, reduced food availability, habitat fragmentation, mine blasts, dust and noise pollution and change in land use in and around Kuppam.
“We have reports of snares, country guns, illegal electric fencing and poisonous bait in border villages. These need immediate verification, as these are a threat to the national bird. A scientific, multi-disciplinary field study and a transparent conservation plan are necessary to protect the peacock,” says Mr Narendra.
Forest Range Officer (Kuppam) R. Jaya Shankar says that the peacocks have the best protection in the Kuppam area. “There have been no incidents of poaching. Although some peacocks die in agricultural fields due to exposure to chemical fertilizers, this is immediately reported to the department. Along with us, farmers also play an important role in saving peacocks from being bitten by stray dogs. Unfortunately, there is no action plan to reduce the population of peacocks. Unlike elephants, they fly in the air, and we cannot clip their feathers. There have been reports of peacocks damaging crops. Except, there is no scientific evidence to prove the claim. We constantly educate farmers about this. Peacocks are also given Schedule-I status, just like tigers or elephants,” explains Mr Shankar.
Hazrat Peer Syed Alisha Qadri Chishti Sahib, chief priest of Kudarathi Chaman Trust Dargah in Chittoor, welcomes the increasing population of peacocks in the district.
“When we bless a person with a peacock feather, it reflects a living tradition of faith, prayer and compassion. Peacock feathers convey a message of peace, security and goodwill. In our country, where cultures have long been intertwined, these feathers are a reminder that spirituality can transcend religious boundaries – uniting people through hope, healing and humanity,” says Hazarath.
