A peculiar situation has unfolded.
Numerous peacocks, valued at approximately $2,000 each, have mysteriously vanished from a historic hotel in California. This has sparked suspicions that someone may have stolen these beloved birds.
Out of the 40 exotic peacocks that once roamed freely on the hotel grounds in Walnut Grove, only four are left after the incident.
“It’s hard to comprehend why anyone would do something like this. The staff is truly devastated,” said General Manager David Nielsen regarding the disappearance of 36 peacocks. “They held a special place in our hearts.”
Nielsen shared that staff first noticed the potential theft on a Sunday when they saw two men removing an expensive peacock. There were also two men seen in a cage in the back of a pickup truck.
He suggested that the friendly nature of the birds, which enjoyed interacting with people, likely made it easier for thieves to catch them.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is treating this shocking event as a property crime, with each male peacock valued at $2,000 and the peahens around $1,000 each.
The peacocks have been part of this beautiful retreat by the Sacramento River since the owner brought in five birds 14 years ago.
Staff members and guests often participated in feeding the peacocks, with the hotel’s catering coordinator, Rafe Goorwitch, mentioning that at least 15 peacocks were fed twice daily, often with leftovers like steak and salmon.
He affectionately referred to one of the largest birds as Alibaba, or Baba for short, because of his prominent presence around the hotel.
“I used to joke with the owner that we worked for Baba; he had this boss-like attitude strutting through the dining room, the ballroom, and the gardens,” Goorwitch remarked.
In light of the theft, the heartbroken staff are now considering enhancing security measures with more cameras, hoping to protect the remaining peacocks and keep their home secure.
Comes with post wire.
