Update on Mama Peahen and her Chicks - Their Sad and Unnecessary Fate

Mama and Her Four Babies 9.2.20

I wanted to do an update last weekend, but I didn't get to viewing a putting together all my video clips in time.  The clips include some nice footage of another Peahen and her Chicks, as well as the complete events that happened to the Mama Peahen and Chicks that are the subject of this upset.  Clips are of the joy when I first saw this Family, of them being booted from safety, and of Mama frantically trying to find a new safe place for her babies. 

That video is done and can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfiwwsd36QU

The last time Mama was spotted was Thursday September 10th.  She had only one babie left.  My heart breaks for her.  She didn't have to watch three of her babies die.

As of Wednesday September 16th, the Patas Enclosure was still empty.  That Family could have stayed safe in there and all the babies would still be alive. 

Update video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Po7ynf22R4

This whole situation was irresponsible in the management of Animals in the San Francisco Zoo Collection.  The action was cruel and shameful.  Those in Zoo management responsible will surely not like these words, but as always, I'm just relaying the facts.  The action was theirs. 

I inquired to several other AZA Zoos with free roaming Peafowl, about their management protocol, as well as the AZA, about Peafowl Management guidelines.  I asked the general question without giving any details as to why I was asking, other than that I was doing research.  I didn't expect to get a reply from the AZA as they never respond to inquiries.   I did get replies from Zoos.  Only one followed through on providing information. 

I thought their response was top notch in detail as well in their protocol for Peafowl Management. 

> "Our peafowl are somewhat managed.  We will make fake eggs to limit how many hatch.  We will do nest checks and replace any fertile eggs with fakes.   When chicks do hatch there are several factors on if the peahen is permitted to free roam with the chicks.  Some factors would be if the hen has successfully raised chicks before, how many chicks, the color of the chicks and how many predators we believe are in the area.  If necessary we will pull the hen with the chicks and give them time to grow.  We have also raised some chicks ourselves if necessary 

Our peafowl are fed twice a day and they know where to come.  They get gamebird chow, cracked corn, greens, fresh fruit and veggies.  They also enjoy leftovers from our parrots and know where to beg for bugs and peanuts. 

We do have some "special" peafowl that are locked up every night or on very busy days for their safety.  This group is also protected from bad weather and given a heat source when it's very cold.  The other peafowl without any issues prefer to roost high in trees.  During bad weather they usually find a barn to hang out in and are fine.  Most of our peafowl are banded with different colors so we can identify them and know if one doesn't seem right. 

We recently had a peachick hatch with splayed legs.  We intervened and banded it's legs.  It's doing well and is with its mother." <

As you can see, much different than the way our poor Peafowl are treated. 

SFZoo does not protect Mother's and their Chicks, does not feed Peafowl, and does not provide them shelter.  Seemingly something needs to change with Peafowl management and in the Bird Dept.

Praying Mama still has her one babie.

Related post:

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2020/09/what-is-going-on-newborn-peachicks-and.html

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