City Peacock strolls through suburban backyards

Wild Peacocks on the Loose in Karlsruhe and Surrounding Areas

In recent months, a series of sightings of wild peacocks and peahens have been reported in and around the city of Karlsruhe, Germany.

In early June, a passerby named Lena Liese spotted a peacock near the Otto-Dullenkopf-Park in Karlsruhe. The bird was later reported to have landed in a garden on Werderstraße.

Similarly, peacocks and peahens that have escaped from the grounds in Karlsruhe have been spotted in various locations, from Muggensturm to Forbach. Last summer, three free-roaming peacocks were caught in these areas, but none of them were ringed or had any indication of an owner.

The fire department in Karlsruhe had to resort to unusual methods to catch an escaped peacock in the city. In Forbach, catching the animals is often difficult due to their ability to fly and seek refuge in roofs or trees. A peahen in Forbach caused a stir and was spotted numerous times on social media.

In Kirrlach, five young peacocks escaped from a local bird park in the spring of 2024 and were spotted in various locations over several days.

The peacock currently being cared for at the zoo in Karlsruhe, and a peahen was also found. However, it's unclear if the peacock belongs to the zoo. Zoo keepers managed to catch the peacock, but attempts to recapture the animals have been difficult, as demonstrated by the gradual return of the peacocks over time.

Animal welfare advocates and experts suspect that the animals might have come from a private keeper who has passed away or abandoned the keeping, but there is no evidence to support this yet.

Experts like the director of the Karlsruhe Zoo have stated that peacocks are generally site-loyal and rarely travel long distances. However, no missing reports from owners could be matched.

Most of the free-roaming peacocks and peahens in Forbach have been placed in private foster homes. The veterinary office in Middle Baden has no overview of private peacock holdings, as they are not subject to registration.

This isn't the first time a peacock has been spotted outside the zoo in Karlsruhe's Südstadt. Around 8:30 AM on a certain day, a peacock was spotted wandering in Karlsruhe's Südstadt on Morgenstraße.

The sightings of these wild peacocks and peahens have certainly added a touch of exoticism to the city of Karlsruhe, but the challenge of recapturing them remains.