An aspiring social media influencer has been arrested in Telengana after a video of him cooking and consuming India’s protected national bird, the peacock, sparked public outrage.
Kodam Pranay Kumar was taken into custody on Monday and jailed after authorities confirmed through videos on his mobile phone that the bird used in his cooking was indeed a peacock, The Express Tribune reported.
“The peacock is protected under stringent wildlife laws,” police superintendent Akhil Mahajan told AFP. “He is now in jail on a 14-day remand under the Wildlife Protection Act. The court will decide whether he remains in custody or is granted bail.”
India Today reported that a team of forest officials visited his village and detained him under the Wildlife Protection Act.
A sample of meat, purported to be chicken curry, found in his house has been sent for forensic analysis.
Investigators are also probing how Kumar obtained the peacock featured in the video, which has since been removed from his channel.
The Times of India said Kumar’s peacock curry video was “a stunt allegedly pulled to attract more views”.
“However, his response was far from what he might have anticipated,” it said. “Social media users condemned the video, accusing Kumar of promoting illegal wildlife consumption and disrespecting a national symbol.”
Kumar’s YouTube channel has 277,000 subscribers. He typically garners 1,000 views on his recipe videos.
The Indian peacock is distinguished by its vibrant blue plumage and the impressive wingspan of the males. The bird holds historical significance, with the Mughal dynasty’s throne, known as the Peacock Throne, named for its ornate depiction of peacocks.
In recent decades, rapid urbanisation and habitat loss have led to a significant decline in the peacock population in the wild. India’s wildlife laws now impose severe penalties and fines to protect these birds from hunting or harm.
The Indian peafowl, the animal group that includes the male peacock, enjoys one of the highest levels of protection under the law as the national bird. The hunting, killing or capturing of the bird is strictly prohibited, and those found in violation face imprisonment for a minimum term of three years, up to a maximum of seven years, along with a fine.
This is not the first instance of individuals being apprehended for consuming peacock meat.
In June, two farmers from Telangana’s Vikarabad district were arrested for allegedly eating a peacock. Forest officials alerted authorities after discovering peacock feathers in an open field with the bird’s body missing. The peacock was believed to have died of electrocution before the two farmers took it away.
SP Mahajan has assured the public that “strictest action would be taken” against Kumar and anyone else involved in such illegal activities.
