Peacocks Disappear from Hotel in California
In a shocking turn of events, the Ryde Hotel in Walnut Grove, California, has found itself at the centre of an unusual mystery, with six peacocks and an unknown number of peahens reported stolen. The incident, which has left the hotel staff heartbroken, has sparked an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.
The beloved birds, cherished for their distinctive presence and endearing behaviour on the historic hotel's grounds, have been an integral part of the Ryde Hotel's character and charm, especially given its nearly 140-year history and its location near the California Delta. The hotel's staff, who have grown to see the peacocks as pets, named some of them, including the biggest one, Alibaba, or Baba.
According to reports, a customer witnessed two men loading one peacock into a pickup truck, prompting the investigation. Hotel staff believe the birds were stolen, and the sheriff's office is treating it as a felony case due to the value of the birds. Each male peacock is valued at around $2,000, and each peahen is valued at about $1,000.
The hotel's catering coordinator, Rafe Goorwitch, fed a group of about 15 peacocks twice a day, and the birds were fed leftovers of filet mignon, prime rib, and salmon. The staff at the Ryde Hotel considered the peacocks as a significant part of the hotel.
The hotel's manager, Nielsen, expressed deep concern, stating that the peacocks meant a lot to them. Staff members are hoping for the safe return of their missing feathered friends and have been heartbroken by their disappearance. Since the news about the missing birds, people have been calling the hotel with tips and possible sightings.
In response to the incident, the hotel has added better and more surveillance cameras, and there are plans to add more fencing to protect the remaining peacocks. The owner of the hotel purchased five of the birds 14 years ago, and the peacocks and peahens reproduced and became a signature of the hotel.
Authorities are investigating the case as a property crime, and the motive for the theft remains unclear. However, the hotel manager expressed concern that the birds might be taken for cockfighting. The staff at the Ryde Hotel are holding onto hope that their missing birds will be found and returned home.
The peacocks and peahens, an essential aspect of the Ryde Hotel's lifestyle and home-and-garden scene, were treated as pets by the hotel staff, especially one named Alibaba or Baba. As the theft of these birds is being investigated as a felony due to their high value, their loss has left a gap in the hotel's community, with staff members and concerned citizens hoping for their safe return.
