The tight-knit community of Oakland, Florida, is facing a disquieting series of events as its signature peafowl population dwindles drastically. Reports from WFLA indicate that neighbors have recently discovered up to 30 dead peafowls, mainly on Deer Island. The birds' deaths are shrouded in mystery and have prompted local animal rights advocate Mo Jacobson, affectionately dubbed the "Peacock Lady," to act.
Concerned peacock lovers seeking to catch a glimpse of the famed birds were shocked to find images of deceased peacocks shared in a Facebook post, which has since drawn widespread attention. Despite their well-being, one of the peacocks named Sonny, who's known as the supervisor, was found dead. Jacobson informed, per WESH, "When I first learned about this… I think it was the end of January… I was told there was a total of 12. That was shocking to me. But then to find out a week later that there was a total of 30… that was terrifying."
The disturbing trend started gaining momentum when Jacobson, who tried establishing the area as a bird sanctuary, noticed the alarming rate at which the birds began dying. Clickorlando reported that the Orange County Sheriff's Office is looking into the matter following the discovery of the dead birds. "I was horrified,” said Mo Jacobson, an animal rights’ advocate. “Who would want to hurt an animal that’s so innocent?"
The Florida Department of Agriculture has received a complaint regarding the situation, and definitive answers are still needed. Although peacocks are not native to Florida, they are protected under state regulations.
