Celebrity owl Flaco dies a year after becoming beloved by New York City for zoo escape
- The Eurasian eagle-owl known as Flaco, who escaped from Central Park Zoo, has tragically died after colliding with a building on the Upper West Side.
- The zoo places blame on the vandal who damaged Flaco's exhibit, endangering his safety and leading to his demise. The NYPD is investigating this incident.
- Zoologists are investigating Flaco's death, considering illness as a potential cause. The owl's fans are mourning and suggesting tributes such as a temporary or permanent memorial.
109 Articles
109 Articles

Beloved NYC celebrity owl Flaco dies
Tributes are pouring in for Flaco, the beloved Eurasian eagle-owl that became a feel-good New York story after escaping its Central Park Zoo enclosure and flying free around Manhattan. Flaco was found dead on a New York City sidewalk Friday night after apparently flying into a building.
Skinny had a short life, once back in freedom. The majestic real owl, escaped a year ago from Central Park Zoo, died last night after hitting a building in Upper West Side, New York. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoo, reported in a statement that the giant animal, with a wingspan of almost two meters, was found on the ground by rescuers after hitting a skyscraper. Skinny, who would have been 14 years old in March, had esca…
The owl escaped from a zoo in February 2023. He was found dead on Friday after just over a year of freedom in the skies over Manhattan.
Flaco, a huge owl that escaped from the New York Zoo a year ago, is gone. The beloved eagle owl has been fluttering around Manhattan since its outbreak but was found dead on a city sidewalk this week.
The eagle owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo last year died after flying over the streets of Manhattan for a year.
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