Peacocks Roam Punta Marina Streets After Population Growth Since 2020

Punta Marina, a town of approximately 1,000 residents on Italy's Adriatic coast, has seen its peacock population grow from an estimated 10 birds in 2018 to about 120 today. The birds began roaming the streets during the Covid lockdown period in 2020 and have remained in the area since.

The peacocks live in gardens of abandoned properties, perch on rooftops and fences, and sometimes peck at car windows. Some residents report that the birds leave excrement on balconies and steps and that mating calls disturb sleep during peak season.

Ravenna city council has faced challenges managing the population. An earlier attempt to relocate the birds in 2022 faced opposition. The council later enlisted Clama, a voluntary animal rights group, to help reduce conflicts. Clama has distributed leaflets and posted signs advising residents and visitors not to feed the birds.

The group has also recruited "peacock rangers" to clean up droppings from streets and properties. The council plans to conduct an official census of the birds. Cristina Franzoni, a volunteer with Clama, said removing the peacocks would cause trauma and that residents should learn to coexist with them.

Other Italian regions have offered to take some of the birds. "We need to try to live with the animals instead of making them victims of our choices – they didn't choose to come here, we brought them here and so must respect them.