A peacock was eaten by a lion at the Calgary Zoo

A peacock was eaten by a lion at the Calgary Zoo last week, after the unlucky bird took flight right into the lion’s habitat.

Trish Exton-Parder, spokesperson for the Calgary Zoo, said in an email to Daily Hive that the peacock got away as the birds were being gathered to move into their winter habitat.

“We are hopeful this is a one-time situation, very unlikely to reoccur,” Exton-Parder said.

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While peacocks have never flown into the lion’s den before, Exton-Parder said that it is not uncommon for wild birds to fly into other animals’ habitats, and that the peacocks would occasionally visit the flamingos.

The zoo currently has six peacocks remaining, and Exton-Parder is confident in their safety and that none will experience the same unfortunate end.

“The protocols are in place for the safety of the peacocks, and, as this was unexpected and unusual, the current protocols are sufficient that are in place,” she said.

The animal care teams will be on the look out for any unusual behaviour in the remaining peacocks to ensure the incident is not repeated.