Sad tale of a lone peacock
A MALE peacock left on a Nerang property after his mates were removed has spent Christmas alone and has been sadly “calling out” to his departed companions.
Residents of the quiet street in Balyando Dr, Nerang, said the usually social and confident bird had become “timid” since his friends were removed by Gold Coast City Council after a complaint from a resident.
Balyando Dr resident Steve Gresham, who has been feeding the peacock, said the “lonely boy” was still desperately seeking out his mates.
He urged the Animal Welfare League to step in and save the animal by reuniting him with his friends who were adopted out from the Stapylton Centre in October, as the council have all but washed their hands of the issue.
A council spokesman said council animal authorities were not planning on reuniting the male with his mates.
“We have not received any further complaints or requests in regards to the peacocks at Balyando Drive, Nerang,” he said.
But Mr Gresham said someone needed to show some “intestinal fortitude” to safely catch and reunite the peacock with his friends.
“Council knows they have stuffed up and to me, they should be charged with cruelty to animals,” he said.
“People, wake up and smell the roses – we are destroying wildlife too quickly. We already have too many Australian native animals and bird life on the endangered list and peacocks are on the world endangered animals list.”
Bulletin readers reacted with anger to the story; Dawn Ralph said the move by council was “cruel”.
“How horrible to leave one behind – they shouldn’t have been moved in the first place but because they were, take all of them. So sad for that male. Don’t people realise that animals that lose their mates and babies can suffer too?”
Georgie Rush offered to rehome the lone male and join her muster of peacocks.
“I have a group of peacocks on my farm at Bonogin – the male needs to be with a group as he will over time be distressed,” she said.