Silke Jasso
An owl who escaped from Central Park Zoo after someone had damaged his cage has now become New York City’s latest celebrity attracting gawkers as he supervises a park from one tree.
Videos by Rare
The owl, a Eurasian eagle owl named Flaco, escaped the zoo back on February 2nd, according to zoo spokesperson Max Pulsinellil. “The exhibit had been vandalized and the stainless steel mesh cut,” Pulsinelli said. “Upon notification, a team was mobilized to search for the bird.”
Flaco reportedly flew from the zoo to the nearby shopping Hub on 5th avenue, where officers quickly tried to catch him but ultimately failed. He returned to Central Park the next morning and has since been spotted at several locations in the Southeast section of the park. Flaco has spent part of his time on the ground of the zoo he had fled but has yet to return to captivity on his own.
Flaco The Owl
 Zoo officials said last week that they were searching to recapture Flaco, but have yet to issue any update on the effort since then. Also, apparently, no one has seen Flaco eat during his six days on the loose, says David Barret, who runs bird Twitter accounts including Bronx Bird Alert, Manhattan Bird Alert, and Brooklyn Bird Alert.Â
On Wednesday, the bird was viewing several skaters at the Wollman Rink on an oak tree in the park’s Hallett Nature Sanctuary. There are several of us watching him from a respectful distance.
“I just want to observe how he’s doing himself,” retired healthcare worker Gig Palileo stated. “I’m a nurse, so I’m always kind of like, ‘Is the eyes still alert?’”
She went on to say he was saddened “that somebody had let this guy go without even thinking about the consequences. … Probably he doesn’t know how to hunt.”
The Eurasian eagle-owl is one of the larger owl species with a wingspan of up to 79 in, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. They also have large saloons and distinctive ear tufts. The owl is not native to North America, but native species including Great Horn owls and beard owls do frequent Central Park. There they are said to dine on smaller birds, mice, and rats.
