Flight to freedom: pelican escapes from Amsterdam zoo, disrupts train services

A pelican which escaped from Amsterdam’s Artis zoo shortly before its wings were due to be clipped has been recaptured, after first disrupting train services.

The pelican first seen swimming in the Entrepotdok and was later spotted on the railway tracks between the city’s main railway station and Muiderpoort. Train services were suspended while zoo staff tried to catch the bird.

The recapture happened fairly easily, chief bird keeper Mark van de Hoef told broadcaster Nos. The pelican’s wings will now be clipped to prevent it flying away again, Van de Hoef said.

Pelicans regularly try to escape from Artis but most are recaptured.