Bantwal: A Peacock that 'Socializes' with Villagers...

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (VM)

Bantwal, Jun 29: A dog is said to be man's best friend. How about a peacock as a village's best friend?

Sounds strange? Not so in this little village of Kepu in Bantwal taluk.

The villagers of Kepu not only have the privelege of watching the peacock dance and skip around, but even play with it. The national bird, symbol of beauty and grace, lives like a 'member' of the village, visiting people's houses, playing with children and simply 'socializing' with them!

Man's love for birds and animals goes back to the beginning of his existence, and this village of around 50 families is the very epitome of this love. The peacock came to the village with a peahen (female) from the forest four years ago. Unfortunately, its companion lost its life due to electrocution, and since then it has been considering the villagers its family.

For the past four years, the peacock has been mixing with the villagers, visiting their houses and playing with their children. Not a single day has gone by without the beautiful bird calling on each house. In fact, the villagers wait for its visit every day.

The people, on their part, love the bird as their own child. As it is illegal to domesticate peacocks, the villagers have provided it with a shelter on a tree near Kepu gram panchayat. They share a portion of their meal with the bird, which it accepts heartily.

The villagers have also taken up the responsibility of protecting the bird from other animals and poachers. They have given it full freedom, letting it perch on their bikes, mix with children and roam around freely on their properties.

Truly, it is a commendable gesture by the villagers, such love and compassion for a bird, that too from a whole village collectively is hard to come by. Kepu is the perfect example of peaceful co-existence between man and nature.

With such generous hearts, Kepu villagers have every right to be 'proud as a peacock!'