The Gore District Council said in a statement it would be finding a "new safe home" for the 9-year-old peacock and 2-year-old peahen following the complaints and a vet’s assessment of their environment.
Bob Smith, who has looked after the aviary for 27 years, said the birds had been raised in captivity and therefore would not survive in a different environment.
He described trying to re-home peafowl on a rural property previously, and how the animals were all killed by sheep dogs. He said he tried to release other birds into the wild, but they too died as they did not know how to fend for themselves.
University of Otago zoologist Professor Bruce Robertson said releasing birds, even those who had been in captivity for only a short time, was a bad idea.
"They won’t have all the anti-predator behaviours that a parent bird would teach them because they’ve never been exposed to it," he said.
Prof Robertson also said captive animals had no foraging skills of their own and would have formed a bond with their carer, who they would see as their source of food.
He said that could lead to trouble when releasing birds, as they would approach humans expecting food and comfort and at times, receive life-threatening treatment instead.
The council said after the complaints, it had a vet assess the general health, condition and enclosures of the peafowl.
It said the investigation revealed the two birds needed a larger enclosure with more light and green grass, with the current cage being only half the recommended size.
Mataura Community Board member Laurel Turnbull said the birds had been well looked after and loved by Mr Smith and that local children in particular enjoyed viewing the "beautiful" peacock, when its tail was up.
"In 27 years I haven’t had any verbal complaints about the peafowl enclosure. I get good reports from the public," Mr Smith said.
In its statement, the council acknowledged the "deep affection" the community had for the birds, promising to make the best decision for both the birds and those that cared about them.
"When they mean safe new home, obviously putting them back into some sort of captive environment where they’re provisioned would be best," Professor Robertson said.
ella.scott-fleming@alliedpress.co.nz
