Indore’s lone peacock clinic lies unused

INDORE: The peacock clinic, which was set up in Indore in April, lies unutilised since the birds are being taken to Indore zoo for treatment against dehydration and heatstroke.
This year the temperature was being recorded above 40 degrees celsius since last week of March. Keeping in view the rising temperature, forest department opened a clinic for peacock as they are highly vulnerable to heatstroke and dehydration.But the clinic has failed to attract any animal lover.
On finding any dehydrated peacock, animal lovers hand them over to the zoo. Not only the animal lovers, but also forest department officials send injured peacocks at the zoo. Recently, on May 27, social worker Janak Palta McGilligan handed over an injured peacock found at Sanawadia village to forest officials. The officials didn’t send the peacock to the clinic, but Indore zoo instead.
The non-utilization of the clinic can be attributed to lack of awareness about the clinic among forest officials and residents living in areas where there is a large population of peacocks.
The department had spent Rs 1 lakh to set up the clinic. Fridge, air-conditioner, medicines and furniture were procured for the clinic. A doctor and a helper have also been appointed at the clinic. They are present at the centre, but, no peacock has been brought for the treatment at the clinic until now.
At present, the department’s focus is on making feed available for peacocks at various places identified in the division, instead of the clinic. “Among the feed, jowar, bajara and millets are being kept at identified places at regular intervals along with containers of water,” CCF Indore M Kalidurai said.