A household's pet peacock in a housing estate near Serangoon Gardens reportedly attacked a toddler passing by. This left the child with a deep cut on her face.
According to a Facebook post uploaded by the mother, the shocking incident occurred on Sunday (28 November) along the junction near Tavistock park.
Pet Peacock Attacks Human Child And Gets Stitches On Her Face
The three-year-old girl was on her way home from a playground at Haus Park in Serangoon Garden along with her father and brother. They were walking along the street of Tavistock Avenue when they stopped to take a look at the pet peacock.
Kris Chan, the toddler's mother, wrote in her post how the kids would always "stop and take a look" as the house had other poultry as pets aside from the peacock.
But on that day, the gate of the house was said to be "wide open" and so her daughter stood outside to look in. It was then that the peacock suddenly charged out and "aggressively" attacked the little girl.
The toddler's father rushed in to protect her but "it was too late" and he was also attacked by the peacock. Chan's husband sustained scratches all over his arms and scrapes on his hands and legs.
The family rushed the toddler to the hospital afterwards. As her wound was said to be too deep, the three-year-old needed to be put under general anaesthesia for cleaning and stitching.
Chan wrote that the stitched area on her daughter's face is more than 3cm long.
Toddler's Family And Peacock's Owner In Dispute Over The Incident
After the incident, Chan's husband went to approach the peacock's owner on 30 November (Tuesday). This resulted in both parties going into a dispute over who should take responsibility for the attack.
After consulting their lawyers and the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), the owners agreed that it was not their fault. This was because their peacock was "free to roam around within their compounds" and that the toddler provoked the animal by staring at it.
The peacock's owners will be deciding how much to compensate the family after the medical bill comes, if at all. The family apparently did not receive an apology at all as the residents "do not think they need to take any responsibility."
"This happened to our beautiful little girl and we're merely looking for a sincere apology, reasonable compensation and proper closure to this traumatic incident. That doesn't seem too much to ask, is it?" Chan wrote.
The toddler's mother shared that she already made a police report but was told that the incident was not a criminal offence.
According to The Straits Times, the National Parks Board said on Wednesday (1 December) that they are investigating the incident.
Keeping Kids Safe Around Animals
It is natural for kids to be curious about the things around them, including animals they may encounter outdoors. To ensure their safety around animals, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
- When seeing animals outside, avoid touching or going near them at all times. Many animals aren't like regular pets and they may come to bite or attack you once you come near them.
- Do not ever try to feed a wild animal. It is better to stay away no matter how harmless they may appear. You never know, they might even have rabies.
- Never bother a pet while it's eating. Allow your pet to eat on its own without pulling its food or taking its water away.
- Avoid going near an animal with its babies. Pets such as cats or dogs are very protective of their babies and will bite to keep you away.
- If an animal appears sick or is injured, do not try to pet it. If a pet is feeling ill, it may get very upset and might bite when you try to play with it.
Remember to keep an eye on your little ones while around animals and stay safe!
Lead image source from Facebook / Kris Chan.
Source: Facebook, The Straits Times, Mothership, Kids Health
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