The two pelicans that escaped from their habitat at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium on Saturday have been captured.
A zoo spokesperson said on Saturday evening that the two pelicans, Joey and Felicity, were captured and safely returned to the facility with no injuries after leaving their habitat. Joey was rescued from the Allegheny River near Sharpsburg. It was not immediately clear where Felicity was found.
Joey and Felicity, the two pelicans that escaped from their habitat at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, have been captured.
(Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium)
“Zoo staff are overjoyed and relieved that the birds are healthy, and deeply grateful for the community’s support during this event,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson said on Saturday morning that the two pelicans got “outside of their habitat.” It was not immediately clear how the animals escaped. In an effort to get the pelicans back to their habitat, the zoo set up a hotline at 412-365-2528 and received numerous calls from the public.
“Public support was vital to the recovery effort,” the spokesperson said. “Using boats provided by Pittsburgh River Rescue and Three Rivers Waterkeeper, as well as support from the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Aviary, and over a dozen calls from members of the public, two Zoo teams constantly monitored both birds until they could be safely approached and recovered.”
In July 2025, the zoo welcomed three scoop-beaked brown pelicans, along with South American Humboldt penguins, and the two shared the same habitats. The pelicans, female Felicity and males Joey and Pierre, came from the Seacoast Seabird Sanctuary in Florida.
According to the zoo, the pelicans were rescued before finding a home in Pittsburgh. The animals have permanent wing injuries and cannot hunt, according to the zoo.
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