Rowdy peacock caught after six months of ruling the roost – using female birdsong | 6171WAL | 2024-04-22 11:08:01
A noisy peacock that had been roaming a neighbourhood for six months was caught by rescuers pretending to be a peahen.
The bird, affectionally named Saataj by locals, had become a popular addition to a street in Gravesend, Kent, often spotted sitting on fences and roofs and sleeping in a tree.
Locals would regularly offer him food and keep an eye out to make sure he was okay.
But when breeding season hit, Saataj started making loud 'screaming' noises in the hope of finding a mate and concerned residents got in touch with Dartford Animal Rescue.
Staff from the charity felt it was best if Saataj was moved to somewhere he could mix with his own kind, and hopefully find a girlfriend.
After spotting him on a bungalow roof, they coaxed him down and led him into a car park by playing peahen noises.
Here the team were able to carefully catch and place him in an Ikea carrier bag.
Ciara O'Hare, who runs the rescue organisation, said: 'The peacock had been roaming around the area for six months to a year and had been crossing a main road to sleep in a tree at night.
'He'd been chilling between three gardens and the neighbours had all become quite attached.
'They fed him and gave him the name Saataj.
'But now that it's coming into breeding season he started to scream and make a really loud call because he was looking for a mate.
'So the neighbours became quite concerned.'
Dartford Animal Rescue had never caught a peacock before but the team are experienced at catching other birds like chickens and geese.
Ciara, 25, attended the rescue with her sister and volunteer Rosie O'Hare, 23, and animal rescuer Melissa Doris.
'Rosie is very good at these kinds of rescues, she's fantastic at catching birds and she's got years of experience,' Ciara said, adding that the experience was made 'completely stress-free' for Saataj.
The peacock was later taken to The Retreat Animal Rescue Farm Sanctuary in Ashford where he has been introduced to the other peacocks and peahens.
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There is a cafe at the sanctuary and the residents who looked after him will be able to go and visit him.
Rosie said: 'I'm very happy for our little guy, knowing he's going to have a group of friends and hopefully get himself the girlfriend he desperately wants.'
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