The authorities also collected samples of the dish
An Indian YouTuber has been arrested for allegedly cooking and eating peacock – a protected national bird.
Kodam Pranay Kumar is from Telangana and has 277,000 subscribers.
He posted a video of him eating a curry that was apparently made from the bird, titled ‘Traditional Peacock Curry Recipe’.
Kumar’s video of cooking and eating the ‘peacock curry’ was allegedly a gimmick to increase his channel’s traction.
However, this backfired when the video went viral and social media users condemned the video.
Social media users accused Kumar of promoting illegal animal consumption and dishonouring a national symbol.
Peacocks are India’s national bird. They are known for their beautiful colours and majestic appearance and are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Peacocks have also become rarer due to rapid urbanisation and habitat loss.
This bird has one of the highest levels of protection under the law. Hunting, killing, or capturing it is strictly prohibited.
Peacocks are seen as regal birds; the Mughal dynasty was also called the Peacock Throne because it featured bejewelled peacocks.
Those violating this law can face up to seven years in prison and receive hefty fines.
Following the backlash, local authorities acted swiftly. A team from the forest department raided Kumar’s home in Tangallapalli village.
The authorities also collected samples of the dish for forensic analysis to determine what meat it was.
The police also took samples of Kumar’s blood and took him into custody, where he will remain for a 14-day remand period under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Following the controversy, Kumar’s video has been taken down.
Animal rights activists have alleged that Kumar has posted this type of content on his channel before.
Sources have also claimed that there are videos on Kumar’s phone that confirm he was using peacock meat.
The Sircilla Superintendent of Police, Akhil Mahajan, said:
“We will take the strictest action against him and anyone else involved in such activities.”
The YouTuber’s video has also sparked a bigger discussion about the responsibility of content creators and the problems with using controversial content to gain views.
This is not the first time individuals have been apprehended for consuming peacock meat.
In June 2024, two farmers from Telangana’s Vikarabad district were arrested after allegedly eating a peacock.
The peacock was said to have died of electrocution before the farmers took it away.
Therefore, the authorities hope that making an example of Kumar will deter others from engaging in similar activities.
Loading ...