View source for Flaco (Eurasian eagle-owl)

[[File:Flaco (86944).jpg|alt=Flaco, an escaped Eurasian eagle-owl, in Central Park|thumb|Flaco, an escaped Eurasian eagle-owl, in Central Park]]
'''Flaco''' was a male Eurasian eagle-owl who gained fame after escaping from his enclosure at the [[Central Park Zoo]] in New York City. He was born on March 15, 2010, and died on February 23, 2024. Flaco's escape gained significant attention, with efforts made to locate and ensure his well-being.<ref name=":0">[[wikipedia:Flaco_(owl)|Flaco (owl)]] Wikipedia</ref>

Flaco spent his early years in a North Carolina bird park.<ref name=":0" /> He was later transferred to the Central Park Zoo.

== Escape ==
Flaco escaped from his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo in New York City after someone vandalised the exhibit and cut its protective steel mesh cage. The incident occurred on February 2, 2023, when individuals gained unauthorised access to the zoo premises and created a hole in the cage, enabling Flaco to flee.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/24/us/new-york-owl-escape-flaco-death/index.html Flaco, the owl that escaped from Central Park Zoo, is dead after hitting a building] CNN</ref>

== Death ==
He was found dead in the courtyard of a building on New York’s Upper West Side on February 23.<ref name=":1">[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/26/flaco-owl-disease-poison New York’s Flaco the owl had fatal conditions before colliding into building]  The Guardian</ref> A postmortem revealed that Flaco had suffered traumatic injuries from colliding with a building.<ref name=":2">[https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/flaco-the-owl-cause-of-death-central-park-zoo/ Flaco had rat poison, pigeon virus in his system when he died, Central Park Zoo says] CBS New York</ref> However, the owl also had severe underlying conditions that would have likely killed him regardless.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/animal-news/flaco-owl-whose-death-shocked-nyc-evidence-bird-herpes-rodenticides-rcna145030 Flaco, owl whose death shocked NYC, had evidence of bird herpes and rodenticides] NBC News</ref> He was exposed to four different rat poisons commonly used to control New York’s booming rodent population.<ref name=":1" /> Additionally, Flaco had contracted a severe case of pigeon herpesvirus from eating feral pigeons.<ref name=":2" /> This virus can be fatal in birds of prey, causing severe tissue damage and inflammation in several organs.<ref name=":1" /> Flaco’s death underscores the hazards faced by wild birds, especially in an urban setting.<ref name=":1" />

== External links ==

* [[wikipedia:Flaco_(owl)|Flaco (owl)]] Wikipedia
* [https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/24/us/new-york-owl-escape-flaco-death/index.html Flaco, the owl that escaped from Central Park Zoo, is dead after hitting a building] CNN

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Owls]]