Police in India have arrested an influencer after he posted a video of peacock curry to get more likes and subscribers. The video in which he cooked and ate the animal sparked widespread outrage. The peacock is a protected bird in India.
The Indian influencer was taken into custody on Monday in the state of Telangana. According to police, he was arrested after other videos on his phone confirmed that the bird used in the curry was indeed a peacock.
The Indian peacock holds significant symbolic importance in India and is protected under stringent wildlife conservation laws.
Kodam Pranay Kumar has been placed in jail for 14 days, charged under the Wildlife Protection Act. The court will decide whether he will remain in custody or be granted bail.
Investigators are also looking into how Kumar obtained the peacock for his video, which has been removed.
The video reportedly showed Kumar cooking a peacock curry in what appeared to be a stunt to attract more views. However, the reaction was overwhelmingly negative.
Social media users condemned the video, accusing Kumar of promoting illegal wildlife consumption and disrespecting a national symbol.
Once abundant across northern India, peacocks have seen their numbers decline due to rapid urbanization and habitat loss.
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