Farmers in Chennimalai area are in a helpless situation, unable to handle the peacock menace.
Peacocks, that have multiplied over the years, descend on the agricultural fields and cause large-scale destruction to the crops.
But, there is little that the farmers are able to do since the peacock is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Last month, a farmer of Rasapalayam area was arrested for poisoning to death five peacocks, a peahen and five chicks.
The farmer who had lured the birds with urea-mixed maize to safeguard his watermelon crop was remanded in judicial custody.
The Forest Department has no solution either to control the flying species.
While elephant movement could be controlled by digging trenches or driving them away, there was no way to restrict the movement of peacocks, District Forest Officer Nagarajan said.
Though a protected wildlife species, peacocks are usually found outside the forest area since their food supply of grains and small insects are in the agricultural fields, where they can feed.
Paddy cultivators in Chennimalai region say there ought to be a permanent provision to pay them appropriately more at the time of direct procurement by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation.
