Peacocks escape Philadelphia Zoo, strut down the highway

May 31 (UPI) -- A flock of four peacocks escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo and caused headaches for commuters by strutting down a busy highway.

Pennsylvania State Police said the four peacocks were reported walking down the westbound Schuylkill Expressway, Interstate 76, about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday after apparently escaping from the Philadelpia Zoo.

Two lanes of the highway were closed as police attempted to escort the birds down the road to a safer location.

Police managed to box the birds in, but they took flight and hid in nearby trees, with one of the peacocks flying all the way across the highway to seek refuge.

The zoo said it was aware of the peacocks' wandering ways.

"The zoo is home to a free-roaming peacock flock that lives on zoo grounds and is cared for by the zoo's animal and veterinary staff," officials said in a statement. "The peacocks do sometimes venture past the zoo's gates and typically return home on their own."

"The peacocks will have gone to roost for the night, the safest decision for the peacocks and Zoo staff is to wait until daylight," the statement said.

The zoo said keepers will work with police Thursday morning to attempt to locate the wandering birds.