Peacock flock roams from Philadelphia Zoo, causes a traffic jam on I-76

Associated Press

A male peacock displays his plumage for females.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Zoo officials hope to recapture four peacocks that escaped and caused a traffic jam on a major highway.

The officials on Thursday will work with police after the birds took a stroll along Interstate 76 around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. State police arrived and shut down two lanes of traffic on the highway, causing backups for miles.

Police say they managed to get the birds off the highway, but they were unable to capture them. Zoo officials say the peacocks went to roost for the night.

The zoo says the flock roams freely on its grounds, and it is cared for by veterinary staff. The zoo says the birds sometimes venture past its gates, but they normally return home on their own.

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