Three peacock carcasses found in UP

The carcasses were found from the track in front of the GRP chowki at the Khalilabad railway station and the forest officials were informed, they said.

As the area is not a natural habitat of the national bird, it was suspected that they were being taken for smuggling purpose by the culprits, they said.

But on finding them dead, they left the carcasses on the track and fled, police said, adding that they bear no injury marks on their bodies.

The bodies have been for post mortem examination, they added.

The peacock, the national bird of India, is protected under Section 51, 1-A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and its killing is strictly prohibited.