The Rajasthan wing of People for Animal (PFA) says 10 peacocks being killed every day in Rajasthan acording to a recent survey that it carried out in the state, the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) reports.

"It is only because of this trade that large scale of smuggling of feathers is also taking place from Rajasthan. On an average, a peacock feather costs between $8 to $10 in international market," Babulal Jaju, the state in-charge of PFA told IANS.

He said that about 36 villages in 14 districts of Rajasthan are proving to be extremely dangerous for the peacocks. 'The maximum deaths are taking place in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and the Shekhawati belt of the state', Jaju said.

He said that export of the feathers of male birds add to the increase in the killing of the national bird. He alleged that tribals also kill peacocks for consuming the meat.

PFA feels that most of the times the incident goes unreported as peacock poaching takes place outside the forest areas so officials are reluctant to probe the issue. Talking about the poaching methodology, Jaju said that tribals first give poisoned food to peacocks and then killed them. Many a time the use of poisonous pesticides in farms also killed the birds.