Thai temple feeds peacocks to keep them away from agricultural fields

Tham Thepnimit Temple in Dok Khatai District, Phayao Province became well known as a destination to watch wild Thai peacocks with a yard where over a hundred peacocks land to seek their food.

The Superior Sriprai Khema Bhirato, Abbot of Tham Thepnimit Temple, stated the peacock is a local bird that can be found around the province.

In the past, these peacocks used to go around the sub-district separately to seek food and sometimes cause damage to the local’s agricultural products.

He then came up with the thought that peacocks might not cause problems if they’re fed so he started feeding them.

So, the temple ended up full of peacocks that come for food. Somban Panjuree, Local of Huai Lan Sub-district, revealed the conflicts between locals and peacocks faded away after the abbot started to take care of them.

Once the peacocks led to tourism growth, locals then began to preserve them.

According to the research by the University of Phayao, Thai Peacock or Green Peafowl, which is under both Thai and international wildlife conservation laws, can be found most massively in Phayao Province with at least 4,000 of them residing in the province nowadays.