Calgary

Peacock dies at Calgary Zoo after it flies into golf cart windshield

A peacock died at the Calgary Zoo after the animal flew into the windshield of a moving golf cart last week.

2 peacocks died at the zoo last year

A peacock, like the one pictured here, died at the Calgary Zoo last week. (Scott Dippel/CBC)

A peacock died at the Calgary Zoo after the animal flew into the windshield of a moving golf cart last week.

Despite quick action by veterinary staff, the zoo said in a statement, the injured bird died on Aug. 9.

An internal investigation determined the death was a "tragic and unavoidable accident," the zoo said.

There were no guests in the golf cart at the time.

Last year, two peacocks were killed at the zoo.

The first died after a red fox sneaked onto the grounds and took it down.

The second was killed when the birds were being rounded up for the season and one of them flew into the lion habitat, where the two males quickly spotted the visitor.

A number of high-profile deaths at the zoo prompted it to undertake an external audit in 2010, which revealed a number of animal fatalities that hadn't been widely reported on.

More recent incidents at the zoo include an otter killed after employees gave the animal a pair of pants, seven penguins that mysteriously drowned, and a lemur that died following stomach surgery.

There are five remaining peacocks at the Calgary Zoo.