Blackpool Zoo pelican found 73 miles away after escape

The unnamed bird - which is just 17 weeks old - flew away from Blackpool Zoo on August 4 after being scared by a flock of squawking seagulls.

Staff had been frantically searching day and night for the bird, which has five foot wingspan, ever since but every time they attended a sighting, it flew off.

But the pelican was captured on August 23 by keepers, after it was spotted in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire - which is a whopping 73.5 miles away from the zoo.

The unnamed pelican was found 73 miles from home (Image: Knaresborough Zoo)

The pelican, which is four ft tall, was rescued by keepers, Jason, Brendan, Khaled and Dan, who used a kayak to get to the bird which was in the middle of a lake.

A zoo spokesperson said they were 'delighted' that the bird had been found and could return to its home.

They said: "We are delighted that the Eastern white pelican has been found safe and well.

"Our dedicated keepers have worked incredibly hard and were thrilled to bring the pelican home to Blackpool Zoo on Wednesday evening.

"It was extremely important for us to rescue this pelican and return it to its flock as they are very social birds.

"As a non-native species, it needed to be back with its own kind."

The pelican had been spotted in Morecambe and Heysham, which are both in Lancashire, before it was found by keepers.

The unnamed pelican was found 73 miles from home (Image: SWNS)

They have now been taken back to the zoo and are in their animal hospital, where it has been given a full health check and will be quarantined.

A spokesperson said: "The pelican is now in our animal hospital where it has been given a full health check and had its wings clipped.

"It will be quarantined before being returned to the flock in the near future.

"Pelicans are beautiful, docile creatures and there was never any threat to the public.

"Blackpool Zoo has housed this magnificent species for many year.

"We are the only collection in the UK to have successfully bred them, which makes the youngster’s return even more special."