Peafowl of several species are among the main attractions at the National Zoo in Mirpur, Dhaka. The sight of a male peacock fanning its tail and dancing delights visitors of all ages. Male peacocks spread their colourful trains to attract a mate and as part of their natural behaviour.

Peacocks usually display more in cloudy weather or when rain is coming, but their colourful feathers also shine in bright sunshine, which visitors find just as appealing.

On Friday, 26 June, three male blue peacocks were seen fanning their tails together at the zoo. Crowds of visitors gathered in front of the enclosure to capture the scene on camera.

Sharmin, a visitor from Uttara, said: "I have come to the zoo many times but never managed to photograph a peacock with its tail spread. It was lovely to see several peacocks displaying together today."

Her friend Mishkat said: "I had heard peacocks only spread their tails when it rains. Today I saw them do it in scorching sun."

Crowds grew after midday on Friday. Ignoring the fierce sun, visitors moved between enclosures, while some sat in the shade of trees or by the lake. Just inside the entrance were monkeys, eating bananas, guavas and other fruit.

Zoo staff were selling jackfruit at the entrance gate, with large jackfruit going for Tk 250-400. Haggling over a large one, a woman exclaimed: "Birds eat your jackfruit. Why are you selling it so dear?"

Visitors also crowded in front of the tiger, deer, lion, giraffe and hippopotamus enclosures.

Last week the zoo's much-talked-about buffalo "Donald Trump" was moved to the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) in Savar, so many visitors were seen looking for it. The authorities said that on Sunday, 21 June, on the instructions of the livestock ministry, the buffalo was formally handed over to BLRI.

A 13-member committee led by Gautam Kumar Deb, head of the buffalo production research division and chief scientific officer, has been formed to monitor the buffalo's current physical condition, care for it and carry out research.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.