Residents of Punta Marina, a seaside town on Italy’s Adriatic coast, are divided over a growing population of peacocks that has colonised the area. The birds, which roam freely through streets and gardens, have become a source of both delight and frustration for the town’s roughly 1,000 inhabitants.
Federico Bruni, who visits his holiday home in Punta Marina, said the peacocks were simply part of the town’s fabric. “It’s no different to seeing a cat, really,” he said. Others, however, complain of noise and mess. Francesco, who declined to give his surname, said: “They jump over the wall and on to my balcony, leaving excrement. But the main issue is the mating – the screams are keeping people awake.”
The peacocks are thought to have been introduced as pets more than 20 years ago, and their numbers have grown steadily. Estimated at 10 in 2018, the population reached about 40 in 2023 and is now believed to be around 120. Rosario Balestrieri, an ornithologist at the Anton Dohrn zoological station in Naples, said the pine forest behind the town provided ideal habitat, while supplementary feeding by locals encouraged growth.
Tensions have risen during the mating season, with one resident’s social media post imitating the peacock scream going viral. A local police officer said reports of an “invasion” forcing people away were exaggerated, but the issue has prompted action from Ravenna city council. An attempt to move the birds in 2022 was opposed, and animal rights association Clama has since been enlisted to promote harmony.
Clama has distributed leaflets and erected signs urging residents and tourists not to feed the birds. The council continues to grapple with how to manage the population, while some locals, like Ilaria Sansavini, who owns a fresh pasta shop, defend the peacocks. “This is their season of love and they should be left alone,” she said.
