Escaped flamingo stops traffic in Miami

MIAMI, March 15 (UPI) -- An escaped flamingo ran onto a Miami street and stopped traffic on Tuesday before being captured by local police.

The flamingo escaped from the Hialeah Park Casino, according to authorities, and began weaving through traffic.

Hialeah police officer Jose Romero spotted the flamingo while patrolling the area, before calling for back-up to capture the animal.

Spokesman Sgt. Carl Zogby told the Miami Herald the flamingo "lost its way and ended up dodging traffic," after escaping from the casino, which houses several flamingos.

"It took three officers to corral it," he said.

The officers managed to calm the flamingo using a traffic vest and were able to return it to the casino safely.

"We were just lucky it didn't get hurt," Zogby said. "He was in the middle of traffic in Hialeah, poor guy."