A well-known white peacock in a Pasadena neighborhood was allegedly pursued and struck by a mail carrier in a disturbing incident that left the bird injured on the pavement and residents calling for answers.
Footage circulating from the neighborhood appears to capture the confrontation, with the postal worker seemingly continuing to move toward the peacock instead of merely shooing it away.
In the video, the man is seen chasing the bird and swinging a stick multiple times, including what appears to be a hit to the peacock’s head.
The encounter allegedly did not stop as the frightened peacock attempted to flee from the scene.
Near the end of the clip, the injured bird appears to be on the ground, flailing and unable to recover.
A post shared in a local neighborhood Facebook group claimed the white peacock’s injuries were severe enough that it could not stand back up on its own.
“Some sad and angry news about our neighborhood white Peacock. Today our mailman threw a rock and hit him with a stick, causing injuries to where he couldn’t get up.”
According to the post, the Humane Society was contacted, removed the bird for medical evaluation, and launched an investigation into the alleged attack.
“Hopefully our little buddy will be OK and will live a good life.”
Neighbors were furious, with commenters insisting the peacock was not a threat.
“Not okay my kids love seeing white peacock, he’s not vicious. I’m sure he was trying to protect himself. We were never around him and never try to attack us. I noticed in the first video he attacked the peacock first.”
Another resident said the community has grown attached to the unusual neighborhood celebrity.
“It’s so heartbreaking – the peacock is a beloved, magical creature who all the neighbors love. We hope he recovers – poor thing. So sad to see him flopping around like that. ”
And if the allegations are substantiated, the incident could be more than a neighborhood dispute.
President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act into law on Nov. 25, 2019, making certain intentional acts of animal cruelty a federal offense.
The law covers conduct involving serious bodily injury to animals, subject to federal jurisdictional requirements.
Local rules are tough, too.
Wild peacocks cannot legally be fed, injured or trapped in Pasadena and Los Angeles County, with violations potentially bringing heavy fines.
The controversy has erupted in a community where peacocks are practically part of the scenery.
The birds roam freely through Pasadena and surrounding neighborhoods, wander into yards, block traffic and have become a fixture of daily suburban life.
They are particularly common in eastern Pasadena and nearby Altadena, Arcadia and San Marino.
Their unlikely Southern California dynasty began in 1879, when wealthy businessman Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin imported several pairs of Indian peafowl to his sprawling Rancho Santa Anita estate.
When the estate was eventually dismantled, the birds were left behind.
They multiplied over the ensuing century and spread into neighboring communities in search of food and shelter.
Now one of those famously flamboyant birds is at the center of a much darker neighborhood drama.
The Humane Society investigation remains underway as residents wait to see whether their injured white peacock recovers.
