Animal services hope escaped peacock will return home on its own

A peacock that escaped a west-end Toronto zoo earlier this week has been spotted in the Parkdale neighbourhood.

TORONTO - A peacock that escaped from a Toronto zoo remained on the lam as of late Saturday afternoon.

A spokeswoman says Toronto Animal Services stopped actively pursuing the bird out of fears of driving it further away.

Nicola Ware says attempts to capture the bird using nets, blankets and bird sounds proved futile.

Now officials hope the bird will make its own way back to the west end Toronto zoo where it escaped from twice in the past week.

Ware says it's not known where the bird currently is, but has proved itself to be smart and resourceful enough to survive outside the zoo.

Animal services will intervene if the bird becomes cornered.