SLOW DOWN

Leila Cosgrove McKail and Matt Hams
Leila Cosgrove McKail and Matt Hams

Iconic peacock dies in hit and run

CALLS are mounting for motorists to slow down on Tamborine Mountain after the death of an iconic peacock hit by a car outside the St Bernard Hotel.

Bub the peacock is believed to have been 26 years old and had taken up residence at St Bernard’s for about 20 years.

Canungra Law

Locals rushed to his aide when they saw him hit by a car and left for dead on Alpine Terrace on December 17, suffering injuries including compound fractures to his wing and leg.

Online tributes flowed from far and wide for the well-known bird, who featured in many wedding photos at St Bernards Hotel and loved getting a handful of frozen peas from staff at lunchtime.

Bub went in for surgery at Gatton UQ Vets after a strong community effort to get him the best care possible but died in recovery due to a suspected blood clot.

Witnesses speak up

Matt Hams and his friends were driving back from a camping trip when they saw Bub the peacock get hit by a car.

“We slowed down because we saw him in the middle of the road, then we got down to the bus stop and a red P plater came driving by, looked pretty fast, and clocked him then just kept driving,” Matt said.

“We turned around and stopped with him.”

Local woman Leila Cosgrove McKail also came to the peacock’s aide and in desperation posted to the Tamborine Mountain Community Facebook page for help when the wildlife rescue service was unable to assist due to peacocks being classed as a domestic animal.

Leila, who drove past at the time of the incident, is the mother of Mr Hams’ friend Jack, who was in the car with him when they witnessed the hit and run.

Community rallies

Kathi Brown, a fellow local who is passionate about animals, saw Leila’s Facebook post and rushed down to help transport Bub to be cared for overnight by Tamborine Mountain peacock enthusiast Julie Wilkinson.

Kathi volunteered to drive Bub to Gatton UQ Vets for specialist care the next day, with St Bernard Hotel paying for the bird’s veterinary fees.

Kathi, who helped save Emily the goose after a hit and run in the same location outside the St Bernard Hotel in 2019, said humans had a responsibility to stand up for animals.

“There’s more that’s happening up here with animals being hit than ever before,” she said.

Action needed

Matt called for drivers to take responsibility.

“Be a bit more aware, open your eyes a bit more, young people especially,” he said.

Leila called for more wildlife signs.

“I’d like to see signage at the top of every road up here telling people to watch out for wildlife,” she said.

“Tamborine Mountain is an environmental wildlife and nature sanctuary but it’s getting so busy that education is just so important, to protect what we have.”