The Peacock Sanctuary: Protected by an Age-old Edict

Have you heard of a peacock sanctuary in India? There is actually one spread over 30 sq km, located in the Beed district of Maharashtra. The sanctuary boasts of over 7000 peafowl along with other fauna that includes blackbuck, fox, porcupine and jungle cats. An ideal weekend destination for bird watching and just walking through the nature trails if one lives in the vicinity. One wonders how so many peafowl live here safely despite the fact that the sanctuary itself is honeycombed with private agricultural land. Legend has it that there was a spiritual figure, Awaliya Baba, called Madershan who meditated under a banyan tree in this very place ages ago. It was this Baba who advised farmers not to harm peafowl despite the damage they caused to crops. It is believed even today that if peafowl are harmed in this area, then the crops will fail. Thousands visit the Baba’s shrine every year to pay homage to him. Baba’s protection still prevails and peafowl roam fearlessly further supported by their home being safeguarded by the declaration of the wildlife sanctuary.  

Age-old Protection

And more protection through the Wildlife Sanctuary