Swans and peacocks slain in series of break-ins at Washington park, officials say

Someone has been breaking into a Washington aviary to kill peacocks and swans, park officials said.

The Walla Walla Parks and Recreation Department said there have been multiple incidents of someone cutting netting at the Pioneer Park Aviary to break in and kill birds. At least a dozen exotic birds have been killed, park officials said.

Parks and Recreation Director Andy Coleman told YakTriNews the birds were killed in two separate break-ins, on May 19 and May 31.

A parks spokesperson told KEPR-TV News that the suspect’s “only motive is to kill animals.” Nothing has been stolen from the park, according to KEPR.

“We hope we can discover who did it,” Coleman told the Union-Bulletin. “Our plan will be to take some measures to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Coleman told the Union-Bulletin that he did not know exactly how the birds were killed.

“Certainly, when we lose birds our hearts hurt for the community,” Coleman told the news outlet. “People of all ages get attached to the birds out there.”

The park system said it will cost $13,000 to replace the birds and buy a surveillance system.

“We are currently taking donations for the purchase of replacement birds and a surveillance system,” Parks and Recreation said. “Any funds received in excess of this amount will be used strictly for future Aviary support.”