Alberta RCMP recovered a peacock and a peahen after the birds were taken in a stolen pickup truck in Stony Plain [1].

The incident highlights a rare recovery of livestock during a vehicle theft investigation, though the primary stolen asset remains unaccounted for.

The theft occurred over a weekend preceding April 29, 2026 [2]. The birds were located near Highway 16 in Stony Plain, a community situated just west of Edmonton [1], [3]. Investigators said the two peafowl [1] were inadvertently taken when the pickup truck was stolen from the property.

Police said the birds were found and safely returned to their owners [1]. While the recovery of the animals provided a positive outcome for the owners, the RCMP said the pickup truck itself is still missing [1], [3].

Authorities have not yet released information regarding suspects in the theft of the vehicle or the subsequent abandonment of the birds. The investigation continues as police search for the missing truck in the Edmonton area [1], [2].

“The two peafowl were inadvertently taken when the pickup truck was stolen.”

This incident underscores the unpredictable nature of opportunistic vehicle thefts, where non-traditional cargo can complicate recovery efforts. While the return of the peafowl resolves the animal welfare aspect of the crime, the missing truck indicates that the perpetrators prioritized the vehicle over the livestock, likely abandoning the birds once they became a liability or a distraction during the getaway.