SALT LAKE CITY — A family is suing Utah’s Hogle Zoo almost a year after a young girl was allegedly attacked and injured by a free-roaming peacock.

A 2-year-old girl was spending April 30, 2021, with her family at the Hogle Zoo. When her mother lifted her out of her stroller, a peacock roaming freely on zoo grounds flew down in front of her and immediately pounced on her, scratching her face just below her eye. The peacock also tore her shirt, scratched her back, and spun her around, causing her to fall on her forehead, the lawsuit alleges.

Hogle Zoo responds to lawsuit

In a statement Friday, Hogle Zoo responded to the lawsuit:

“We are aware of the incident involving one of our free roaming peacocks and a young guest on April 30, 2021, and have received notice of the lawsuit that was recently filed. The safety of our guests, staff, and animals in our care is paramount.  Shortly after the incident involving the young guest, Utah’s Hogle Zoo Animal Care Team and Safety Staff swiftly responded and proceeded to successfully capture and relocate all free-roaming peafowl. Currently, there are no free-roaming peafowl on zoo grounds. In order to protect the integrity of the process, the Zoo will address allegations of the complaint through the legal process.”

Other children also hurt by peacock, lawsuit claims

A zoo employee told the child’s family that the attack was the fourth by the same peacock in two days, according to the lawsuit.

The zoo was aware that at least one of these children required medical care, the suit states. The zoo did not subdue or sequester the dangerous bird and allowed the peacock to roam the grounds, which were open to the public, the lawsuit claims.

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