Interspecific heavy metal variations and bioaccumulation in peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

ABSTRACT The present study was designed for biomonitoring of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and cobalt (Co) at three selected wildlife parks of Punjab. Soil, water and feed samples analysis revealed the high heavy metals contents in feed (21.59 ± 27.39 and 12.67 ± 23.13) followed by soil (11.80 ± 25.84 and 4.96 ± 10.95) and water (2.93 ± 4.48 and 1.11 ± 1.23) samples at Jallo Wildlife Park and Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar, respectively. At Wildlife Park Murree, heavy metals contamination was recorded highest in feed (10.45 ± 16.35), followed by water (6.26 ± 11.35) and soil samples (5.75 ± 9.54). Feathers samples at all sites showed the highest levels of heavy metals concentrations as 12.21 ± 25.69 at Jallo Wildlife Park, 11.50 ± 25.63 at Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar and 3.35 ± 4.81 at Wildlife Park Murree. Interspecific variation of heavy metals among samples and sites was recorded at P < 0.01, and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the feathers of captive birds was found in high concentration, making them a good indicator of biomonitoring. In captivity, the birds feeding on homogenous diets and particular environmental conditions can better allow us to understand the bioaccumulation of polymetallic contamination, which can further be generalized to predict the risk of these toxic pollutants on public health.