The Ryde Hotel staff are desperately missing their favorite occupants \u2014 the gorgeous peacocks known to fawn about on the orchard-lined banks of the Sacramento River and mischievously wander through the hotel\u2019s banquet hall.<\/p>\n
A guest reported seeing two men shoving a peacock into a cage and loading it into a pick-up truck on Saturday, said hotel manager David Nielsen. <\/p>\n
A head count on Sunday yielded an alarming discovery: Of the several dozen peacocks that make up the local flock, only four could be found on the hotel grounds. The Ryde Hotel is in the California Delta near the rural community of Walnut Grove and has a history that stretches back nearly 140 years. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Alibaba is among the peacocks missing from the historic Ryde Hotel in Sacramento County.<\/p>\n
(Rafe Goorwitch)<\/p>\n
\u201cThis area is known as the heart of the Delta and when this first happened it was a little shocking,\u201d said hotel events coordinator Rafe Goorwitch. \u201cIt was a stab in the heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sacramento County Sheriff\u2019s Office is investigating the case of the missing peacocks and is hoping to track down those responsible and bring the birds home. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unique in the sense that we\u2019ve never had a peacock caper,\u201d Sgt. Amar Gandhi told The Times. \u201cIt is being investigated by our property crimes bureau and it is a felony based on the dollar amount.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gandhi said that the estimated value of a male peacock \u2014 known for its fabulous, iridescent tail feathers \u2014 is $2,000, while a female peacock is valued at around $1,000.<\/p>\n
Nielsen said he\u2019s concerned that the peacocks may have been stolen to be used in cockfights. \u201cThat disturbs me highly and is really kind of hard to talk about,\u201d he said, getting choked up. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Officials at the Ryde Hotel, which regularly fed 15 peacocks, says only four have shown up on the hotel grounds. They fear the rest have been stolen.<\/p>\n
(Rafe Goorwitch)<\/p>\n
Gandhi said that peacocks are not typically used for fighting but that there is real reason to be worried for their welfare.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey could be used for the black market exotic animal trade<\/a> or sometimes even for peacock meat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n