Monk breeds peafowl at ancient pagoda

Last update 10:17 | 14/09/2014

VietNamNet Bridge – The rare bird has re-emerged in Phu Yen Province thanks to the efforts of monk Thich Nguyen Duc.

Safe haven: Caged under the shade of an ancient Bodhi tree, the peafowls now live together with other birds, safe from the threat of being stolen, shot or poisoned. 

Strange and interesting stories about the peafowl – a valuable, rare and endangered bird species – have been circulating in Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province.

It was reported that a monk has been taking care of peafowls in the garden of the Ho Son Pagoda. This has compelled me to go on a trip to the pagoda to see for myself whether the stories are true.

The peafowl is included the Red Book of Viet Nam, a list of rare and endangered species of fauna and flora that are native to the country.

Research shows that the bird can be found in the Yunnan region of southern China, Myanmar, Thailand and Indochina. In Viet Nam, the noble bird can be seen in the Central Highlands, the South Central region, and in the Nam Cat Tien National Park in the southern province of Dong Nai. The State has prohibited the capture and killing of peafowl for quite some time.

The bird can also be seen in zoos in various cities of the country. But elsewhere, it seems to have disappeared. So a number of people were surprised to see a flock of peafowls and other rare birds in the Ho Son Pagoda, in the heart of Tuy Hoa City.

In a history spanning more than 300 years, Ho Son has been supervised by 17 abbots. It now serves as headquarters of the provincial Buddhist Sangha. Its location and beautiful scenery have also made it a favourite destination of Buddhist monks, intellectuals, writers and artists, who enjoy having heart-to-heart talks with monks about poetry, bonsai and birds.

The pagoda's current abbot is Thich Nguyen Duc. He is also an executive council member of the Buddhist Sangha of Viet Nam, as well as deputy chairman and secretary general of the Executive Board of the Phu Yen Buddhist Sangha.

The venerable monk was also once a biology teacher. He remains a lover of nature and literature and had composed poems on meditation. His interest in nature has led him to study rare birds at risk of extinction.

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