# When Palamu Was Called the 'Land of Tigers': The Forgotten Tale of Kingfisher Feathers That Adorned Parisian Hats

> Jharkhand's Palamu was once known as the 'Land of Tigers', a region where kingfishers were hunted in huge numbers so their bright feathers could be shipped to Paris to decorate the fashionable hats of French women.

**Category:** Jharkhand · **Published:** 2026-06-13 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/jharkhand/jaba-palamu-kahalata-tha-bagha-desha-kingaphishara-ke-rngina-pnkhon-aura-perisa--358

Today, the Palamu Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand draws tourists from across India and abroad thanks to its natural beauty and wildlife. Yet its past is far richer — and far more startling — than its present. There was a time when this region was known as the 'Land of Tigers', celebrated not only for its large population of tigers and other wild animals but also for a biodiversity so unusual that it earned attention around the world.

## Dense Forests and a Haven for Birds
Dr. D. S. Srivastava, an expert on the Palamu district, told Local18 that this is not a story of a few decades ago but one that stretches back hundreds of years. Back then, the area's thick forests, ponds, traditional water bodies (aahar) and natural water sources were considered ideal habitats for wildlife and birds. Alongside tigers and deer, a wide variety of birds thrived here in abundance.

Among them was the kingfisher, famous far and wide for its striking, colourful plumage. So common was it that the bird could be spotted with ease beside nearly every water source in the region.

## Beautiful Feathers Drew the Hunters
According to Dr. Srivastava, historical documents record that the forests of Palamu were home to large numbers of kingfishers during the latter half of the nineteenth century. But the very beauty of these birds became their undoing. Their bright feathers were in heavy demand abroad, and to meet that demand, hunting parties from the Mirshikar Toli of Patna began arriving in Palamu.

These groups killed birds in large numbers, plucked out their colourful feathers, and sent them through trade routes all the way to Paris, the capital of France.

## Palamu's Loss, Paris's Fashion
It is said that in those days these vivid feathers were used to decorate the fashionable hats and outfits of Parisian women. In other words, the bloodshed in the forests of Palamu was lending sparkle to fashion an ocean away. Nor was this limited to the kingfisher — the body parts of other birds and wild animals were traded as well.

At the local level, people from the Behelia community in the Chainpur and Shahpur areas also hunted birds in large numbers. The hides and feathers of the slaughtered birds were dried and sold off to traders.

## Documented in the 1895 Survey Records
Dr. Srivastava notes that all of this finds mention in the Survey and Settlement Record of the year 1895. The first report on Palamu, prepared by the then official D.H.I. Saunders, also refers to such activities.

This chapter of Palamu's history tells the story of its rich biodiversity on the one hand, and on the other holds up a mirror to a time when wildlife and birds were hunted merely to satisfy the demands of the global fashion industry. At a moment when wildlife conservation and environmental protection are being given special emphasis, Palamu's past serves as a powerful reminder of why protecting nature and biodiversity matters.

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