‘It was heartbreaking’: Sugar World peafowl targeted in vandal attack
A distressed resident has detailed her desperate efforts to save an injured bird allegedly left to die, as police investigate whether it’s linked to an alleged rock attack at Sugar World.
Cairns
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ICONIC symbols and much-loved local inhabitants of a well-known south Cairns water park have been attacked and killed in a senseless act of animal cruelty at the weekend.
On Sunday at 2.15pm police were called to Sugar World Adventure Park in Edmonton after receiving reports of children inside the park’s fenced off water slide area.
A police media spokeswoman said officers made a patrol of the area and confirmed a bird had been killed but alleged offenders couldn’t be located.
Bentley Park resident and animal lover Jennifer Eastwood heard about the unfolding incident and quickly got down to the park on Hambledon Dr to see what she could do.
“I had a look around the park and came across a large pile of leaves next to a rock and metal drainage grate,” she said.
“I removed the leaves and the peahen was still alive.
“So I wrapped it (in a towel) and put it in the car and called the 24-hour vet and drove to the vet but it passed away.”
Detective Inspector Gary Hunter said police had begun to investigate the peahen death and alleged park vandalism attack.
“We’re still trying to investigate whether the actual break-in is associated with the death of the peacock,” he said.
A Cairns Regional Council spokesman said the park was shut on Sunday due to staffing shortages and operators were made aware a group of children were inside the aquatic park on Sunday.
“Following an inspection, no damages have been found, although some large rocks were thrown down the slides,” he said.
“A peahen was found dead in the parklands and police are aware.”
Ms Eastwood said it was not the first time peafowl had been killed at the site.
“It’s becoming a regular occurrence, (they are) hidden in leaves and hidden in the garden,” she said.
“It was terrifying and to think what the animal went through was horrifying, for child to (allegedly) do this and have such contempt for life.
“There is nothing in place to prevent it from happening next week.”
The Bentley Park resident said she had been left shaken by the ordeal.
“It was heartbreaking, I had a bit of a cry,” she said.
The situation was exacerbated by difficulty getting help to save the injured bird.
Ms Eastwood said the Edmonton police station was unmanned, RSPCA had no one available and she was rejected by the wildlife rescue carers as the injured bird was not a native species.
“It was quite a shock to see the (lack of) community communication in how to deal with these situations,” she said.
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