According to the Central Park Zoo, Flaco the Great Eagle Owl was found dead.
The Central Park Zoo said in a statement Friday that Flaco, the owl that attracted New York City's attention and was dubbed “the world's most famous owl,” died in a crash.
“Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl who was found missing from the Central Park Zoo after its exhibit was vandalized just over a year ago, appears to have crashed into a building on West 89th Street in Manhattan,” the zoo said in a statement. “We are sad to report that he died in an accident,” the zoo said. said in a statement Friday.
The zoo said Flaco was reported to the Wild Bird Foundation (WBF) by people who were in the building. WBF staff responded quickly, but the owl was unresponsive and was pronounced dead shortly after.
“The vandals who destroyed Flaco's exhibit endangered the safety of the birds and are ultimately responsible for Flaco's death. We hope that the NYPD, which is investigating the vandalism, will eventually make an arrest. ” the statement continued.
Flaco, who arrived in the city in 2010 as a chick from North Carolina State Birds and has been used as a home in a narrow excavation in Central Park, was reported missing on February 2, 2023. Since then, it has gone from being an unknown bird to a celebrity without realizing it. Sanctuary.
Police said Flaco was released from captivity by the Central Park vandals. Despite an extensive search, Flaco was able to evade capture over his year and gained supporters.
Flaco soon caused a stir on Fifth Avenue, one of Manhattan's most fashionable shopping streets, landing on the sidewalk near the Bergdorf Goodman department store, drawing crowds and the New York City Police Department. Officers sealed him off with yellow crime scene tape and apparently set up an open cage next to him in case he wanted to surrender. Before they could move to catch him, the speckled creature flew off into a tree in front of the Plaza Hotel.
Flaco continued to captivate crowds and his survival skills surprised those who never thought he could survive outside the enclosure.
“A few days ago, we observed him successfully hunting, catching and eating his prey. ,” zoo officials said last year.
On February 2nd, the apex predator tested the limits of its 6-foot wingspan when vandals tore through the stainless steel mesh of its enclosure at the Central Park Zoo and slipped through the opening into the wilderness of America's largest city. It has been one year since. For the first time in his life.
ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.
