Real turkeys poisoned by insecticides rescued by farmers

A poisoned peacock rescued by forest personnel who was treated at the Veterinary Hospital in Krishgnagiri on Tuesday. | Photo credit: special arrangement

The insecticide spray through mango plantations in Pochampalli is damaging the royal turkeys, which leads farmers to intervene.

Two real turkeys were found unconscious on Tuesday after feeding on insects that had fallen dead from mango trees. Farmers in the area have been spraying insecticides to combat pests, and insects that leave the dead of the trees provide fodder for real turkeys. The farmers, after detecting the royal turkeys, tried to revive them briefly spilling water for their peaks, after which they alerted the forest department.

Talking with The HinduA forestry staff involved in the rescue said that one of the two birds recovered quickly and was released near Penneswaramadam, while the other required an intensive treatment before being released in Thalapalli.

“The number of royal turkeys has increased in numbers that also indicates a fall in predators who take advantage of turkey turkey eggs. The insecticide spray through the fields and birds that feed on them are hurting them,” said the staff.