A white peacock, a cherished fixture in a Pasadena neighborhood, was allegedly attacked and severely injured by a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, according to local residents and video evidence. The incident has prompted an investigation by the Humane Society and ignited fury among community members who described the peacock as a beloved neighborhood celebrity.
Video circulating among residents appears to show the mailman pursuing and repeatedly striking the peacock with a stick, including a blow to the head. The peacock was left on the ground, unable to get up, according to a neighborhood Facebook post. The Humane Society was called to the scene, took the bird for evaluation, and has opened an investigation.
Residents expressed distress and anger over the alleged attack, asserting that the peacock posed no threat and was a gentle presence in the community. "My kids love seeing the white peacock, he’s not vicious. I’m sure he was trying to protect himself," one resident commented. Another described the bird as "a beloved, magical creature who all the neighbors love."
The incident occurred in Pasadena, a city where peacocks are common and roam freely through yards and streets, sometimes even causing traffic disruptions. The presence of these birds in Southern California dates back to 1879, when businessman Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin imported Indian peafowl to his estate. After the estate was later dismantled, the birds remained and multiplied, eventually spreading into surrounding communities.
Under local ordinances, it is illegal to feed, injure, or trap wild peacocks in Pasadena and Los Angeles County, with violations potentially leading to significant fines. Furthermore, intentional acts of animal cruelty causing serious bodily injury can be a federal offense under the bipartisan Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, signed into law in November 2019.
The Humane Society's investigation is ongoing, and residents await news on the peacock's recovery and the outcome of the inquiry into the mail carrier's actions.