WALNUT GROVE, Calif. (AP) — Dozens of peacocks and peahens recognized for wandering the grounds of a historic Artwork Deco lodge within the Sacramento Delta are lacking, and the lodge employees stated Tuesday they consider the birds had been stolen.
After a buyer on the Ryde Resort talked about Sunday seeing two males grabbing one of many birds and placing it inside a cage on the mattress of a pickup truck, the employees did a depend and realized solely 4 of their unique birds remained, David Nielsen, the lodge’s basic supervisor, stated.
“We’re undecided why anybody would do something like this, however the employees is completely heartbroken,” Nielsen stated.
Authorities are investigating the case as a property crime. The male birds are valued at $2,000 every and the peahens at $1,000 every, stated Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson on the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Workplace. He did not share any extra info.
The proprietor bought 5 of the birds to wander the grounds 14 years in the past. They reproduced “to the purpose that they grew to become a signature of the lodge,” Nielsen stated. Peacocks are frequent in Artwork Nouveau design.
Employees fed them leftovers of filet mignon, prime rib and salmon, and over time, the birds grew to become tamer. They bought used to individuals, and the staff started seeing them as pets, even naming a few of them.
Rafe Goorwitch, the lodge’s catering coordinator, stated he fed a gaggle of about 15 peafowls twice every single day. He named the most important one Alibaba, Baba for brief, as a result of he would stroll by means of the lodge like he owned the place.
“I joked with the proprietor that we labored for Baba as a result of he would stroll by means of the dinner rooms, the ballrooms and the backyard with this perspective that he was the boss,” Goorwitch stated.
Peacocks are typically aloof, however Baba “grew to become like a canine,” he stated.
Because the information in regards to the lacking birds grew to become public, individuals have been calling the lodge with ideas and potential sightings, together with stories of neighbors with new peacock pets, Nielsen stated.
Resort employees are hoping the birds are discovered and returned residence. For now, the lodge has added higher and extra surveillance cameras, and there are plans so as to add extra fencing.
“They actually meant loads to us,” Nielsen stated.
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Rodriguez reported from San Francisco.
