Peacock sighting at 7,000 feet sparks climate shift concerns
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Bageshwar: A peacock was seen perched atop a pine tree at an altitude of nearly 7,000 feet in Khrkuguler village in Bageshwar, sparking concern among experts over signs of shifting climate patterns and ecological stress in the Himalayan region. The bird, usually found in lowland tropical areas, was spotted on Sunday at an altitude where temperatures remain low for most of the year.
Bageshwar divisional forest officer Dhruv Martoliya called the incident "unusual but significant", and said it showed that climate change was affecting biodiversity in the Himalayas. Forest department sources added that rising temperatures and changing weather patterns were prompting species like peacocks to move towards higher altitudes.
The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), India's national bird, typically inhabits warm, lowland environments such as the Terai belt of north India, grasslands, and agricultural fields. Its presence at elevations above 6,500 feet is rare and signals potential shifts in habitat suitability due to climate change. Experts warned that the upward migration of warm-climate species could displace cold-adapted wildlife, increase interspecies competition, and disrupt the fragile ecological balance of mountain ecosystems.
Environmental activist Ashok Lohani said rapid infrastructure development, including road construction, hydroelectric projects, and mining operations in Bageshwar's upper reaches, had intensified the impact of climate change. "Heavy machinery used in these activities burns large amounts of diesel every month, emitting carbon dioxide and black carbon," he said.
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Experts also pointed to visible signs of ecological stress across the region, such as retreating glaciers, shrinking water sources, erratic rainfall, and declining crop yields. Such changes, they said, reflected the broader effects of climate disruption on the Himalayan landscape.
Environmentalists have urged immediate policy-level intervention to curb further ecological damage. Their recommendations include tighter carbon emission controls, limiting deforestation, promoting eco-friendly infrastructure, and involving local communities in biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts.
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