Who killed Pat the peacock? Village's mystery after much-loved bird disappears
A VILLAGE has been plunged into a whodunit mystery after a crowing peacock was apparently shot in the dead of night.
The bird mysteriously arrived two years ago in Thimbleby
The bird mysteriously arrived two years ago in Thimbleby, population 258, nestling on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.
It quickly became a fixture, hopping from one home to the next where villagers would feed it.
But it seems Pat the peacock was not loved by everyone, and calls made during the mating season may have pushed one resident over the edge.
Police were called after reports of gunfire.
Pat quickly became a fixture in Thimbleby, population 258
Officers failed to find a victim until it was realised Pat had vanished from the tree in which he roosted, leaving only a few feathers.
People are really aggrieved - it was a barbaric act
One villager said: “The person who did this was very careful to cover his or her tracks. There is anger that this happened, people are really aggrieved. It was a barbaric act.”
Farmer Chris Frank admits he was hunting rabbits on the evening in question but said he believed Pat may have fled in terror at the sound of his shooting.
Farmer Chris Frank believes Pat may have fled in terror at the sound of his shooting
Mr Frank and wife Pauline own The Old Reading Room holiday cottage and there has been criticism online due to holidaymakers being disturbed by the bird.
Today Mr Frank said police “were happy that I had done nothing wrong”.
Peafowl are not covered by wildlife protection laws.