An idyllic little slice on the northeast coast of Italy, Punta Marina is a vision of paradise with white sandy beaches and the azure blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. It’s also home to colorful peacocks……..hordes upon hordes of peacocks. Years ago, an area resident purchased a few peacocks, hoping to sell their feathers and meat. Eventually, he decided he no longer wanted the birds and released them into the wild. Letting foreign animal species run rampant is never a good idea, and the peacocks soon demonstrated why. With no natural threats or predators, they found Punta Marina a veritable paradise with plenty of food. Around 200 peacocks now roam the tiny town, making the lives of the locals unbearable. The peacocks are ravenous and constantly on the lookout for something to eat. They’ve stripped local gardens clean of vegetation. After they’re gone, nothing remains but a barren yard full of peafowl poop. To make matters worse, it seems there’s no end to their numbers. Every year, there are more peacocks in Punta Marina, and their numbers have finally reached a breaking point. Local authorities are now planning to reduce the number of peacocks one way or another. However, much to their surprise, some locals have protested against any action aimed at getting rid of the peacocks. They argue that the peacocks have become a symbol of local identity and the residents should learn to coexist with them peacefully. The plan for now is to catch and relocate the birds somewhere where they can do no harm.
