With a six-foot wingspan and a heartwarming story, Flaco the Eurasian eagle owl quickly rose to fame and entered the hearts of New Yorkers.
Sunday 25 February 2024 20:17 UK
Tributes have poured in following the death of a beloved celebrity owl among New Yorkers.
Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl who shot to fame after escaping from the Central Park Zoo last year and was living freely in Manhattan, died this week from injuries sustained.
Flaco, a normally hoarking owl whose nocturnal cries captured the hearts of people on the Upper West Side, no longer chirps after apparently flying into a building.
It was a heartbreaking end for the birdwatchers who recorded the owl’s daily movements, and for the many passionate observers.
Flaco escaped from the zoo last year after vandals broke through a waist-high fence and cut a hole in his steel mesh cage. He arrived at the zoo as a chick 13 years ago.
Zoologists investigating his untimely death (the species can live 10 years in the wild and 60 years in captivity) said he was in good physical condition despite having no hunting experience. He says he succeeded in catching his prey.
The zoo said it is investigating illness as a possible factor in his death and plans to release an update in about two weeks.
Sightings of Flaco have become a sport, with New Yorkers keeping their eyes peeled for a glimpse of his checkered black and brown plumage and six-foot wingspan.
This majestic owl spent the day perching on tree branches, fence posts and fire escapes, and at night it hooted atop the water tower and preyed on the city’s many rats. .
David Barrett, who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert account at X and tracks reports of owl activity, said Flaco had been quiet for several days before his death.
Barrett said Saturday that she had suspected Flaco had gone exploring other neighborhoods, but after hearing about his death, she suspected he had become ill.
“He wasn’t going anywhere, he was just being quiet in his old neighborhood, which I think suggests he wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t in the mood to make a fuss. ,” Barrett said.
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With news of his death came pleas for justice.
“The vandals who destroyed Flaco’s exhibit endangered Flaco’s safety and are ultimately responsible for Flaco’s death,” the Central Park Zoo said in a statement Friday.
“We are hopeful that the NYPD investigating the vandalism will eventually make an arrest.”
Fans of Flaco shared suggestions Saturday for a permanent statue overlooking New York City. One person called for the owl’s remains to be buried in Central Park.
“In many ways, Flaco the Owl was a typical New Yorker: fiercely independent, always exploring, and finding ways to survive ever-changing challenges,” a post on the X Platform reads. and reflect common sentiments. “I’ll miss him when he’s gone.”