What Is Going On?! - Newborn Peachicks and Mama Booted From Safety

This incident happened last Tuesday.  I was so upset that I planned to sit in my car after leaving the Zoo and write this post.  I usually don't write blog posts anywhere but home.  They take alot of time and energy, so Id rather be at home and comfortable, but I was absolutely outraged at the lack of compassion that I just witnessed, I was ready to go off the cuff. I needed that immediate outlet.

As I made my way out of the Zoo I kept running into people I knew, and since I was fuming, the only thing I had to talk about was what had happened.  Every person I talked to agreed, This was wrong. 

That morning as I approached the old Patas Monkey enclosure, to check if it was inhabited yet (more on that in a bit), I saw a Mama Peahen and Four Teenies inside.  Gosh they were cute.  I hadn't seen Peachicks that small in many many years.  They weren't there the day before, so they must have hatched overnight?  I spent the next hour or so gushing over them and taking many photos and videos. ... I haven't uploaded that footage yet.

I noticed right away that the door to the Keeper area was open.  Nearing that hour mark, I saw two Keepers inside the exhibit.  Soon, they started motioning to the Mama and Chicks, herding them toward the door.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  These newborn babies were being led to the path.  

Let me say, I don't blame the Keepers, they take orders from their bosses. I'm sure I know but will leave it at saying, whoever did make this call, shame on you.  There was a more compassionate way to do this, and that would have been to wait.

Once the Family got to the gate, it was opened and they were shooed out, and the gate closed behind them.  

I was there every step of the way, and documented the whole thing.  My heart was breaking for this Mama.  She was so upset, one minute she's in a safe environment with her new babies and the next minute she's pushed out onto the path where people are coming up to her, one little kid was about to throw rocks at her babies.  It was just awful.  She started making distressful sounds, that sounded almost like bird screams but on the level of a whimper, as she tried to keep all her babies next to her, while maneuvering past tons of people on the path, looking for a safe place for her babies.  

She had a safe place.  WHY was she kicked out of it? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btbezK1vCsI

A bit of back story.  The Patas Monkeys, also got the boot.  They were sent to another Zoo two years ago.  This enclosure has sat vacant since the day they left.  

Two weeks ago, some staff were working in there, clearing out the overgrown landscaping.  I asked them if someone was going in there and was told the (Bald) Eagle.  What?!  I was shocked and initially bothered that Sureshot was being removed from her longtime home at Eagle Lake.  I don't like displacement, but after thinking about it and imagining her in there, I thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad, as she would have alot more room.  ... The catalyst for the move is allegedly a drama between her and the Pelicans.  It seems logical, as the Zoo unnecessarily doubled its Pelican population a few years back and there isn't enough land for a dozen plus Birds.

So, Sureshot has been off exhibit I think about three weeks.  And that day, Tuesday, probable Hatch Day, was THE day they decided to put Sureshot in the Patas Enclosure. 

Here's my grief.  The exhibit has been vacant two years.  Sureshot has been off exhibit maybe three weeks.  What was the hurry?  They couldn't wait a day?  a few days?  a week?  It had to be done THAT day? Why?  ... Nothing is ever done there in a hurry, Why this?  Orangutans sat in the caged tube for eight months and still have no home of their own.  Squirrel Monkeys lived in cages in a concrete room for four years, never going outside.   And NOW they are in a hurry.  

I understand that the Peafowl are free roaming, and usually have their babies wherever and then live out their journey of survival roaming about the grounds.

But, this Mama chose a place she felt was safe, since there was nothing going on in there for years.  So, at that point, she should have been left alone, at least for a few days.  Not kicked to the curb, less than a day after her babies hatched.  Unbelievably Cruel.  

Part of the Zoo's Mission Statement includes the word CARE.  I do not see Care in this situation, or many others for that matter.  There has been too many instances where there is No Compassion, No Empathy, and it's disturbing.

The thing is, the Peafowl are part of the Zoo's collection, yet they treat them like they are wild.  Why, because they are free roaming?  They get medical care, but other than that, they are left on their own to find food and shelter.  It has always bothered me that there is not one area that they know to go to for food supplement if needed.

I now think there should be a place where Mama's and Babies can be relocated together, and protected from Predators until they are a decent size to survive.  Why are they just left out to wonder and possibly get preyed upon?

There has to be a space.  I immediately thought of two.  First, the day before, I saw for the first time, four Peachicks at the Farm.  These Chicks are a couple months old.  They are in the renovated old Turkey enclosure.  They stay in the coop, but when bigger will have access to the yard.  It's unclear, but it seems they were separated from their Mama's and brought there to be cared for, for their survival.  I don't support separating babies from Mama's, unless they aren't being cared for.  So, while I like the use of this space, and the theory (protection), I'm bothered that the Mama(s) weren't brought into safety as well to care for their Babies.    

That all said, many thoughts come to mind.   One being, Why were these babies protected but so many before and now after are not?  Something needs to change with this protocol. 

After learning the four young Peachicks do not go outside to the yard because of predators, it was obvious this was not an option as is, so out for immediate use.  I wondered, if the yard could be fenced in to create a second predator proof space?  Then this could be a place for other Families (Mamas and Babies) to be protected until old enough to survive free roaming.  It would also create a space for rotating and one group wouldn't have to be exclusively locked in the coop. 

The other thought is, last year during the Newcastle Disease scare, all the Peafowl were rounded-up and taken off roam.  Maybe the space they were housed in then could be an option.  It just seems like there has got to be a place to make this happen, so these Mama's can raise their Babies and not see them fall victim to predators.   

I was so upset when I left, I didn't want to go the next day, but I wanted to check on the babies, and see if Sureshot was moved in. ... As of Wednesday, I was so happy to see all four babies had thankfully survived the night.  Not so happy to see that the enclosure was still empty. 

There was NO reason that Family had to be shoved out that day.  There is no excuse.  It's Shameful.

Praying they have stayed safe.  

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I know some people aren't going to like the title of this post, but the thing about that is I am not alone in these thoughts or most that I have.  After venting my upset to someone about what happened with the Peafowl Family,  I said, WHAT, is going on (here)?! They said, What is going on? I said, Right? They said, THAT's your blog title!  Then I saw someone who also grew up coming to the Zoo.  At one point during that conversation, they grabbed their head and said, What is wrong with the Zoo?  These weren't the only two instances.

I'm thankful I know many like minded people.  While it would be easier on our souls, we don't wear rose colored glasses.  Seriously, there have been so many things that just aren't right, when talking to each other, we all just know what is meant by that line.  It's unfortunate and sad.

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