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Peacock ‘invasion’ of Italian seaside town ruffles feathers

With Punta Marina residents loving or loathing the incomers, ‘peacock rangers’ have been appointed to defuse tensions

Peacock ‘invasion’ of Italian seaside town ruffles feathers

TL;DR

  • Punta Marina, Italy, is experiencing a significant increase in its peacock population.
  • The birds inhabit abandoned properties, rooftops, and trees, often interacting with the town's infrastructure and residents.
  • Residents have mixed feelings, with some appreciating the peacocks and others complaining about noise, mess, and hygiene issues.
  • The peacock population is believed to have originated from a few individuals over 20 years ago and has grown substantially, especially after the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
  • Animal rights associations like Clama are working to educate residents and tourists on not feeding the peacocks to encourage them to forage in their natural habitat.
  • Local authorities are grappling with managing the population, with plans for a census and 'peacock rangers' to defuse tensions.