New Delhi: Monal birds, musk deer and state flower Brahmakamal were all a part of Uttarakhand’s tableau during the Republic Day parade this year. The tableau won third position.
Monal bird is a relatively large-sized pheasant and the male has more colourful appearance than the female. The male Monal bird’s crest feathers were used to decorate men’s or the Himachali ‘topi’. Last month, there was a ban on wearing these hats, according to a TOI report Conservator of forest and Great Himalayan National Park director, Ajit Thakur, said, “We shall spread social awareness about monal hunting and illegal use of its trophy (crest). Poaching of this colourful bird has decreased over the years, but the use of crest is still in vogue. Keeping or displaying monal crest can invite legal action under Section 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act.”
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Monal crest is generally fitted with gold or silver ornaments on the traditional Himachali cap. Wearing the Monal crest feathers on the hat is an old tradition, and Kullu is notorious for the poaching of the birds but the youth in the arear are working towards spreading awareness. The birds had come at the verge of extinction as thousands of Himalayan monal were killed only for its crest. In 1982, Himachal government imposed a ban on its hunting. To sensitise people and to protect the bird, it was made the state bird. The officials now claim that its population was increasing in some parts of the state.
Monal birds are pheasants native to Himalayan forests and shrublands at elevations of 6,900–14,800 ft. It used be the state bird for Himachal Pradesh until 2007 but not it is the state bird for Uttarakhand and national bird of the neighbouring country Nepal.
