Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary

Karnataka has two peacock sanctuaries, one at Adichunchanagiri and another at Bankapura fort .[1] Bankapur ನವಿಲು ಪಕ್ಷಿಧಾಮ is inside the Bankapura Fort in Bankapura in Haveri District.

Indian Peacock
Peacock sanctuary inside the Bankapura Fort

Fodder grown exclusively for Khilari bulls in the area has become an ideal peafowl habitat. The moat is about 36 km long, 10–15 metres wide and 7–8 metres deep.

The banks of the moat are covered with Acacia, Neem and Ficus plants. Crops like maize and jowar grown regularly for cattle are delicacies of the peafowl.

The peacocks are also seen around the Ranebennur Taluk

The navilu pakshidhama in Bankapur[2] is the only second sanctuary in the country that is exclusively engaged in the conservation and breeding of peacocks.

Understanding the great presence of peacocks in the region, the Government of India declared Bankapura as a peacock sanctuary on June 9, 2006. Any visitor to this sanctuary will not return without seeing a flock of peacock, our national bird, happily dancing in the sprawling sanctuary, without a care in the world.

This sanctuary is situated on 139 acres of land which has the remains of the historic Bankapura Fort. The high mound and deep trenches of the land have provided a perfect home for these birds. The sanctuary is located on the cattle breeding farm which was set up in 1919 after the First World War. The farm is located in 90 acres (360,000 m2), out of the total 139 acres (0.56 km2) of the sanctuary.

According to a rough estimate, there are more than 1,000 peacocks and peahen in the sanctuary. Also, minimal human intervention has helped in the breeding of these birds. They walk royally on the 4 km mound and also perch on green trees. The officials of the Department of Veterinary Sciences have shown great interest in the conservation of these birds, making it easy for the Forest Department to carry on with their job.

Bankpura Fort is home for not only for peafowl, but also a number of other birds like great-horned owl, babbler, magpie, robin, green bee eater, nightjar, spotted myna, paradise flycatcher, Indian robin, spotted dove, parakeets, kingfisher, grey hornbill, blue tailed bee eater, blacked winged kite, tailor bird etc.

References
  1. "Bankapur's peacocks call for help". Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  2. "Peacock Paradise". Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2008.


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