Motorcyclist killed after being hit by flying peacock

The 24-year-old man was riding on his scooter while a peacock, in a bid to cross the national highway, ended up hit his head

Kaup (Karnataka):A young motorcyclist died after a peacock, which was flying from one end of the national highway to the other, hit his head even as he failed to gauge its movement. The accident took place at Kaup in Karnataka's coastal Udupi district on Tuesday.

The youth has been identified as Abdullah. He was 24. Sources said he was riding from Belapu to Padubidri, located about 10 km away, on NH 66 when a peackock flew from one end of the road and ended up hitting his head. As a result, the youth lost balance and crashed his head against the divider. He was declared brought dead at the hospital. The impact of the accident was such that the peackock, too, died on the spot.

Man-animal conflicts in the region have increased in the last few years due to increasing urbansiation. The increased presence of peackocks in the region is also attributed to the presence of large number of snakes as the national bird feeds on these reptiles. Experts on the other hand said their appearance is an evidence of climate change.

According to statistics, Karnataka accounts for around 77 cases of man-animal conflict every day.

Zaheer, a representative of the locals, said the peackock menace in and around Kaup has increased drastically off late. Submitting a representation to the forest department to act, he said the birds have been destroying crops in paddy fields and besides blocking NH 66 often.