Overview
- Local forest personnel registered a case after 20 peacocks—three males and 17 females—were found dead across farmland near the Kere Kodi stream in Hanumanthapura village
- The carcasses were collected by wildlife and veterinary teams and samples sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for toxicology analysis
- Environment Minister Eshwar B. Khandre ordered a Deputy Conservator of Forests–led team to investigate under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and submit a report within five days
- Officials suspect the birds consumed pesticide-laced crops or were deliberately poisoned, pending confirmation from laboratory results
- The peacock deaths follow similar suspected poisoning cases that killed 20 monkeys in early July and a tigress with four cubs in late June