Escaped Eurasian Eagle-Owl. He was a long-time resident of the Central Park Zoo in New York City. He hatched in a North Carolina bird sanctuary in 2010 and began his life in New York City shortly thereafter. His enclosure was cut open and he escaped on 2 February 2023. Several attempts to capture him were made, as there were serious concerns over his ability to fly and hunt, and the availability of prey untainted by rodenticides. However, on 10 February 2023, The Wildlife Conservation Society observed that his flight skills had improved and he was successful in hunting and eating. Over the next months he stayed within Central Park, venturing out in November 2023 to other neighborhoods, but returning to the park. On 23 February 2024, he was found on the ground, and was pronounced dead by rescuers. On March 25, the Central Park Zoo and the Wildlife Conservation Society released the necropsy report. He died due to traumatic injuries following a window collision, with rat poison and pigeon herpesvirus damaging his organs, debilitating him, and possibly predisposing him to the fatal collision in which he died.
The story of his life, and later death, was reported internationally by outlets including AP News, The New York Times, Outside Magazine, The Guardian, National Geographic, NPR, Smithsonian Magazine, Los Angeles Times, CBC, El País, Le Monde, BBC, Mainichi Shimbun, and Corriera della Sera, among many others.
Escaped Eurasian Eagle-Owl. He was a long-time resident of the Central Park Zoo in New York City. He hatched in a North Carolina bird sanctuary in 2010 and began his life in New York City shortly thereafter. His enclosure was cut open and he escaped on 2 February 2023. Several attempts to capture him were made, as there were serious concerns over his ability to fly and hunt, and the availability of prey untainted by rodenticides. However, on 10 February 2023, The Wildlife Conservation Society observed that his flight skills had improved and he was successful in hunting and eating. Over the next months he stayed within Central Park, venturing out in November 2023 to other neighborhoods, but returning to the park. On 23 February 2024, he was found on the ground, and was pronounced dead by rescuers. On March 25, the Central Park Zoo and the Wildlife Conservation Society released the necropsy report. He died due to traumatic injuries following a window collision, with rat poison and pigeon herpesvirus damaging his organs, debilitating him, and possibly predisposing him to the fatal collision in which he died.
The story of his life, and later death, was reported internationally by outlets including AP News, The New York Times, Outside Magazine, The Guardian, National Geographic, NPR, Smithsonian Magazine, Los Angeles Times, CBC, El País, Le Monde, BBC, Mainichi Shimbun, and Corriera della Sera, among many others.
