Tuesday, May 27, 2014

A brood of Pea-fowls - Pavo cristatus, Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka.


The cry of 'maeyoe' 'maeyoe' repeated loudly is heard in this shrub jungle. Very often you come across them on the roadway. If disturbed near a nest they will launch an attack and will try to peck out the eyes of a threatening human being. The Dutch loved their meat and slaughtered them by the hundreds. The Shah of Persia of an earlier era slaughtered a thousand of them to collect their feathers, to decorate the throne of a thousand year dynasty. The lard from their flesh is applied on the skin in the belief that it will promote bone healing in a fracture.
The pea-cock is the 'Vaahana' - vehicle of Lord Skanda and hence is not harmed by the local population. It is by law a protected animal in Sri Lanka.

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