A two-month-old peacock, killed by an unknown tourist in a park in this capital city of eastern China's Jiangxi Province, will be preserved as a mounted specimen to raise public awareness.

Sources with the People's Park in Nanchang said the young bird was throttled on Aug. 10 when all staff responsible for birds were at a regular meeting.

Soon after the meeting, peacock keeper Jin Dexiang found half a dozen peacocks circling around a smaller one lying dead on the ground.

Jin said peacocks were known for being hard for people to catch. However, the dead bird had been bred in captivity and released from a care center only a week ago. "It may have been natural for it to get close to tourists," Jin said.

The incident reported by local media has triggered public anger. A number of residents have asked to see the young bird's body.

A couple of lawyers called to offer legal advice as the cruel act broke the law on animal protection.

As a result, park authorities have decided to stuff and mount the murdered peacock and display it to visitors. But its small body has made the work more difficult and the park sought expert help.

A dozen of local people have responded so far and park authorities will select the most skilled person for the job.

Park staff are now keeping watch around the clock and signs have been put up, with slogans like "Birds are the friends of mankind".

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2002)