Peacock loose in downtown Chattanooga found, returned safely

UPDATE (5/2/2025):  The loose peacock has been located and safely returned to the Chattanooga Zoo.

The zoo posted on their social media platforms regarding the birds disappearance on the afternoon of May 2, 2025.

A resident nearby named Eric Spear sent the zoo a direct message via Instagram saying he could see the peacock.

Zoo staff quickly drove to the area and were able to retrieve the peacock and return it to the zoo.

Director of Marketing and Communications at the Chattanooga Zoo Jake Cash says zoo staff is going to keep him inside and do a veterinary check up to make sure that everything is fine.

To thank Spear for his help, the zoo awarded him a zoo membership!

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) —   A peacock from the Chattanooga Zoo is loose in downtown Chattanooga.

On May 1, 2025, the zoo did their daily count of all of their peafowl, and all peacocks and peahens were accounted for.

That afternoon, two peacocks exited the zoo grounds and into the parking lot.

Zoo official Jake Cash said they were able to bring one back into the zoo, but the other traveled further away and has not yet been found.

Sightings of the bird in the nearby area of the zoo have been reported.

“Something like this is a very rare occurrence. It is extremely unusual for a peacock to attempt to exit the Zoo, and we have never had a peacock leave grounds that we did not quickly recover in our roughly 40 years of allowing peacocks to free-roam.”

-Jake Cash, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Chattanooga Zoo

If anyone sees the peacock, please call (423) 697-1322.

The zoo urges people not to chase it or try and capture it yourself, as it will scare the bird more.