Published
Video length: 3 mins.
In the UK, the small town of Maryport has been overrun by peacocks. These birds have created discord in the neighborhood between the pros and the anti-peacocks.
Maryport is a quiet little town in the north of England, whose tranquility is disturbed by new occupants: peacocks. They court and strut the streets with no notion of private property. They invite themselves to all the neighbours. “My children give them crisps, the peacocks love it”assures a woman. These birds have been granted the status of invaders. Originally there were just three peacocks in a hotel that closed in 2018. Since then, they have multiplied. The district would have about thirty of them, that is 1% of its human population.
Two petitions
“I talk to them and they look at me. When I go to my terrace, they defecate on my head. But what a beautiful bird it is!”testifies a local resident. He adapts to their presence. But, some of his neighbors are exhausted. “They bawl from 4 a.m. every morning”laments a resident. The peacocks have sown discord in this village. The inhabitants clash in petitions. One to capture them and entrust them to a refuge. The other to let them thrive. The latter garnered the most support.