Uttarakhand Forest Officials Report 'Surprising' Peacock Sighting at 6,500 Feet

Uttarakhand forest officials have confirmed an unusual peacock sighting. Although the Indian peafowl is a generalist species that can survive in different types of habitats, the bird is known to be a lowland flyer, preferring elevations closer to the sea level. According to a PTI report, a peacock was recently spotted at 6,500 feet."It is surprising that the peacock, which is usually found at an elevation of 1,600 feet, has been sighted at an altitude of 6,500 feet,” Dhyan Singh Karayat, an official with the Uttarakhand Forest Department, Bageshwar division, told the news agency.The native peacock species has been spotted twice this year in the district’s forested areas. The first of these sightings was reported from the Kafligair range in April, with the most recent one occurring in Kathayatbara, on October 5.

Peacock seen at 6,500 feet, likely sign of climate change, say expertshttps://t.co/VcAkUarQc2@natgeowild @World_Wildlife #Uttarakhand #UttrakhandNews pic.twitter.com/kc1XXWgwjS

— जनरल नरभक्षी फैन क्लब (@GeneralPakshi__) October 5, 2024

Peacocks perching at higher altitudes is a sign of the larger shift in migrational patterns caused by ecological changes, Karayat said.Although such sightings may still be considered outliers, they are not exactly surprising, according to Dr Suresh Kumar, a wildlife biologist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).Despite being a lowland bird, the Indian peacock appears to have taken to higher habitats, evidence previously documented in Himachal Pradesh reveals. With the Himalayas warming rapidly due to climate change, the bird is likely seeking familiar conditions in uncharted territory."Increased human activity like farming and expanding human settlements in the higher reaches of the mountains have led to warmer conditions at higher altitudes," said Dr. Kumar, "which may have led to this altitudinal migration of the peacock."However, with the colder weather setting in, peacocks would likely return to their original, lowland habitats. The Indian peafowl is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Being the country’s national bird, it is protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Act, 1972.