A white peacock affectionately known as Sugar who was videotaped being mauled by a postal worker has made a full recovery and was moved to a private ranch in Northern California this week, according to the Pasadena Humane Society.
The nonprofit said in a statement Facebook post The bird has been under the care of veterinary and wildlife teams for several weeks.
“After careful consideration of what is best for his long-term well-being, our wildlife experts believe that given the heightened public interest in his case, relocation will provide him with the best quality of life and help reduce the risk of future negative encounters,” the post read.
Animal services officials said the bird was moved to a private ranch in Northern California on Tuesday. A spokesman for the Pasadena Humane Society did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The injured peacock made headlines on Aug. 18 when a resident discovered it in the 3700 block of Mohawk Street.
Sugar Peacock rests at the Sandra J. Goodspeed Wildlife Center’s sanctuary in August.
(Alvin Clemens/Los Angeles Times)
The striking poultry became so well known in the communities where it lived for many years that some called it Sugar. This bird is also known for its temperament, especially towards humans.
“When it comes to men, he can be a little, uh, aggressive,” Geena Davis, a teacher in Pasadena, said in a phone interview.
She said the bird chased away her husband and neighbors. Davis said it was her husband who named the bird Sugar.
“Because it’s white, not because of his personality,” she said with a laugh.
Davis said she checked her home’s security footage at the time and was surprised to discover the reason for Sugar’s condition: The camera captured a postal worker throwing a rock at the bird and then hitting it with a stick or stick.
Davis said the video shows the bird following the mailman to his truck.
“Peacock was standing right in front of his truck,” Davis said. “He got out of the truck and hit him on the head or neck with a stick or stick or something.”
The Pasadena Humane Society said it took the bird to a wildlife center, where veterinarians found swelling but no broken bones.
The U.S. Postal Service, which is investigating the incident, has not yet revealed the identity of the mail carrier. A spokesman for the federal agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
But officials previously told The Times that postal employees have also encountered peacocks, and the agency has been working with the Pasadena Humane Society to resolve issues involving peacocks.
The Pasadena Humane Society also investigated the incident and said in its Facebook post that it had completed its investigation and turned over the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
A spokesman for the district attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Davis has mixed feelings about Sugar’s move.
“It’s bittersweet,” she said. “We do miss him. … He was a staple in the neighborhood. We thought he would be moved [Los Angeles County] Arboretum, but we knew it was best for him. ”