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HEARTBREAKING: The Ada Ryan Gardens peacock that was euthanised this week. Picture: Alison Nicholls
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
It with great sadness the City of Whyalla must announce it has lost the battle to save the Ada Ryan Gardens peacock.
The peacock was taken into quarantine recently when Council staff and the public noticed he had been walking with a limp and appeared in pain.
He was treated by a local vet for several days and initially diagnosed with a swollen joint. This progressed into a severe infection in the joint which caused paralysis of the foot.
With no signs of improvement while in the care of the vet, and with indications the bird was in pain, the heart-breaking decision was made to put him to sleep this week.
It is estimated the peacock may have lived in the gardens precinct for 50 years or more. It is unclear what caused this ailment but it may have been age-related.
Peacocks wouldn’t normally last this long in the wild but because this one has been kept safe in the aviaries, fed and looked after, it may have extended his life span. It is believed the peacock was originally a rescue bird brought to Council by a resident.