The European eagle owl that escaped last year from New York's Central Park Zoo has died after soaring over the streets of Manhattan for a year.
Flacco may have crashed into a building, the zoo said Friday in a news release. It was people in the building who alerted the Wild Bird Fund, which quickly noticed the animal had died.
The cage in which the bird lives was vandalized on February 2, 2023. Flaco's movements have been recorded since his escape and zoo staff prepared to rescue him at the slightest sign of difficulty.
The zoo said, “The person who vandalized the cage endangered the safety of the eagle owl and is responsible for its death.” He added: “We still hope that the police, who are investigating the incident, will eventually be able to arrest him.”
The zoo was able to recover the bird's body and transport it to the Bronx Zoo for a necropsy.
“We appreciate all the support and shared concerns about Flaco's well-being throughout the year, and the many people who have contacted us for updates. We especially appreciate the quick response of the Wild Bird Fund staff in trying to help Flaco,” the zoo added.
