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An owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo after someone ripped his enclosure open has earned celebrity status to lucky New York City gawkers who catch a glimpse of the soaring, majestic animal.
Zoo officials say the Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco escaped on Feb. 2 after the exhibit was vandalized and the stainless steel mesh cut. Wednesday, a small crowd spotted Flaco in an oak tree surveying ice skaters at Wollman Rink in the park’s Hallett Nature Sanctuary.
After escaping the zoo, Flaco flew to a shopping hub on Fifth Avenue, where police officers first attempted to catch him and failed.
Flaco returned “home” the next morning and has since been successful in dodging recapture efforts — soaring from tall trees at various locations in the southeast section of the park.
Officials are concerned that Flaco can’t hunt and will starve, zoo spokesperson Max Pulsinelli said in a news release the following day. No one has seen Flaco eat during his week on the run, the Associated Press reported.
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No updates on efforts to catch Flaco have been issued since his initial escape.
USA Today could not reach the zoo on Thursday for comment.
The Eurasian eagle-owl
With large talons, distinctive ear tufts and a wingspan of up to 79 inches, this larger owl species is not native to North America, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Native owls — including great horned owls and barred owls — are often seen dining on rats, mice and smaller birds in Central Park.
Contributing: Associated Press
Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY’s NOW team.
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