After months of controversy in Italy, Punta Marina puts a stop to wild peacocks

A coexistence that has become unsustainable is about to lead to one of the largest and most controversial wildlife relocations on the Romagna coast. The famous colony of wild peacocks that has taken over the streets of Punta Marina Terme, a seaside resort in the municipality of Ravenna (northeastern Italy), is set to be drastically reduced.

Following a particularly heated public meeting between local residents and the local government, it was decided that only 50 of the approximately 200 birds counted will be allowed to remain in the area. For the remaining 150 birds, a comprehensive relocation plan to protected sanctuaries and suitable facilities will be implemented, thus bringing an end to a media saga that, for months, dominated Italian television programming and attracted reporters from all over Europe.

The figures from the technological census and the challenges of coexistence

What was initially just an “unusual” tourist attraction has turned into a complex management problem. In 2022, the population numbered only about sixty individuals, but the uncontrolled rate of reproduction prompted the administration to order an official census, conducted primarily using professional drones.

The survey mapped the presence of 50 adult females and 65 adult males, in addition to 30% of specimens that could not be accounted for and approximately 50 newborns. Although the AUSL of Romagna (the local health authority) has certified that there are absolutely no health or hygiene risks, Mayor Alessandro Barattoni emphasized the need for this intervention. The situation became urgent following repeated complaints from residents regarding nighttime noise pollution during the breeding season and constant threats to road safety.

Banding and relocation: The future of the colony in the woods

The complex logistical operation of this relocation will be coordinated in collaboration with activists from the animal welfare association Meta, who will ensure the birds’ well-being during the delicate capture and transport operations to the sanctuaries. The 50 birds that will receive their “residence permits” in Punta Marina will be immediately banded on their legs so that the colony’s population trends can be closely monitored.

In the longer term, however, the municipality’s plans aim for a permanent separation between the urban area and these exotic birds. The goal set for the next three years is to create a nature reserve in the woods behind the seaside resort. It is there that the remaining peacocks will be permanently confined, thereby ensuring the animals’ protection and the peace and quiet of local residents.