15-year-old boy steals, tortures, kills exotic birds from Washington aviary, cops say

A 15-year-old has been arrested in connection with several incidents of exotic birds being stolen, tortured and/or killed from an aviary in Washington, Walla Walla police said.

Between May 14 and 15, nine exotic birds were either stolen, injured or killed at Pioneer Park Aviary, including a blue peacock, which had cuts on its head, tail feathers plucked out and “is now blind in one eye,” according to a news release from the Walla Walla Police Department.

A white peacock, blue peahen and a white-crested Kalij were found dead in a pond and a valley quail, a black Swedish duckling and three coturnix quail were stolen, the release said.

“It is believed the juvenile gained entry by cutting the netting on top of the large enclosure that houses the birds,” according to the release.

Then on May 29, a blue peahen, a wood duck he, and a paradise shelduck were killed, according to KOMO. One swan was left injured, Yak-Tri News reported.

The blue peahen was killed while nesting on five eggs, only four of the eggs hatched and only two survived, according to the Union-Bulletin.

The Columbia County teen is under investigation for nine counts of first-degree animal cruelty, four counts of first-degree criminal mischief and four counts of third-degree malicious mischief, the release said.

The teen’s name was not released since he is a minor.

Walla Walla Police said they “received credible information” in the case following the announcement of a $1,000 reward offered by a “private citizen group.”

This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 11:33 AM with the headline "15-year-old boy steals, tortures, kills exotic birds from Washington aviary, cops say."