KULLU: A pair of peacocks were spotted in a snow-covered forest of Jagatsukh village at an altitude of over 6000ft (approx 1,800m) near Himachal Pradesh’s Manali — the rare sighting triggering concerns about the impact of climate change on this fragile ecosystem.Commonly found in warmer regions, the peacocks have sparked a sensation in Jagatsukh.Balak Ram Sharma, 52, of Jagatsukh, said some villagers told him the pair moved into the forest last summer but were rarely spotted. “We checked one of the peacocks and found it was not injured and its flight was normal,” Kullu deputy conservator of forests (wildlife) Rajesh Sharma told TOI. According to Sharma, the rise in average temperature could be one of the reasons for this rare sighting at such an altitude.“There were no ceiling fans in homes in Kullu and Manali even 10-15 years ago. But the climate has got warmer at most places and the high hills are not as cold as they once were, so peacocks may be finding the upper regions of Kullu habitable and have started acclimatising,” said Sharma.Peacocks in Himachal Pradesh are generally found at altitudes of 1,000m but some thrive in areas up to 1,500m. Himachal Pradesh has become significantly warmer in the last 124 years. According to meteorological department, the state has recorded a rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius in average mean temperature since 1901.
