Heartbreaking scene in Tolstojeva Street: the chick didn't survive dehydration, and its mother called out to it in panic. A Split resident has issued a dramatic appeal to the City over the non-functional drinking fountain at Gripe and dangerous driving.
In Split's Tolstojeva Street on Friday, an exhausted baby peacock was found, which, despite the rescuer's efforts to revive it, died of dehydration. The entire event was marked by a heartbreaking scene in which the mother peahen frantically called out to her chick, not understanding why it wouldn't get up. The news was shared on social media by a Split resident, who linked this case to the broader issue of the lack of water for animals in the area of the Gripe Fortress.
The Split resident highlighted in her post that the key issue is the non-functional city drinking fountain at Gripe Fortress. "While scenes like this keep happening, the city drinking fountain at Gripe Fortress remains out of order. The mayor promised to bring it back, but so far, there's nothing but promises," she wrote. She added that some women are forced to bring water from home every day to water the animals and trees in the area.
"Is it normal that citizens have to carry water from home to keep trees and animals alive, while the city can't provide the basics, a source of drinking water?"
In addition to the water issue, the appeal also calls for the installation of speed bumps and a traffic sign warning of the presence of peacocks. The proximity of a kindergarten was particularly emphasized. "Cars drive through that part as if it were a race track. The danger isn't just for the peacocks but for the children too," the Split resident said.
According to her account, an email was sent the same day to the director of the Split Natural History Museum and Zoo, asking her to support the initiative to bring back the drinking fountain at Gripe. The message highlights the museum's interest, as the trees in the area survive thanks to citizens who bring water.
The Split resident also warned of the broader consequences of neglect. "There used to be plenty of squirrels at Gripe Fortress. Now they're gone. They're disappearing slowly, quietly, and away from the public eye," she wrote, suggesting that the peacock's death is just the tip of the iceberg.
She concluded her post with a direct appeal to the city authorities: "I appeal to the city authorities to finally stop delaying solutions and start acting. Bring back the drinking fountain. Install speed bumps and a warning sign. These aren't big or expensive projects, but they can save many lives."
She ended with a question that sparked numerous reactions: "How many more little souls have to die on this road and under this sun before someone decides enough is enough?"
The claims about the cause of the chick's death and the state of the drinking fountain were made in a citizen's social media post. For a complete picture, an official response from the relevant city services is needed.
