Rocky leg break

The adult bird is now hobbling around with a plaster cast on its broken leg after a group of children threw rocks at it at Warrina Park.

Mount Isa vet Dr Len Fulham set the bird's leg in plaster and handed him to the North West Wildlife Carers Group.

The group's Joyce Brogden said the bird was unable to walk properly and couldn't roost at night.

"He's in plaster for a month; it's not fair for the poor thing.

"We are hopeful the bird will recover, but if he doesn't recover enough to be released back to Warrina Park, he will have to be euthanased," Mrs Brogden said.

She said she was horrified at the actions of the children who thought it would be fun to throw rocks at the bird.

"Was this act of cruelty done when the parents were watching?

"If they weren't watching, why weren't they?

"Parents should keep an eye on their children's activities and behaviour in public places," Mrs Brogden said.

She was told the parents were sitting watching their children torment the bird on the first Sunday of the school holidays.

"If they do this to birds when they're young, what will they end up doing when they're older?"

The bird was saved from the children by a member of the public, she said.

"If she hadn't intervened this beautiful bird may well have been killed."

She said she was becoming fond of the bird which had the most raucous call she'd ever heard.

"I thought it was an air horn on a big truck when I first heard it."

This is the second peacock with a broken leg the group had looked after in the past few years.

"The other one was hurt by children too."

It was "plaster heaven" at the sanctuary at Mrs Brogden's house at the moment, she said.

"We have three roos in plaster: one with a broken leg, another with a broken tail and the third with a broken arm."

Vallita Sloane from the Mount Isa Water Board said she saw children chasing and throwing things at the peacocks "all the time".