Flaco to remain free: Central Park Zoo gives up on capturing escaped owl for now

Feb. 19, 2023, 1:06 p.m.

The zoo said Flaco has been "very successful at hunting and consuming the abundant prey in the park."

Flaco escaped from his habitat at the Central Park Zoo after the mesh was vandalized in early February, zoo officials say.

Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl that escaped the Central Park Zoo early this month after his habitat was vandalized, will be allowed to stay free for now.

The zoo says it's putting on hold efforts to recover Flaco, who has been "very successful at hunting and consuming the abundant prey in the park."

“We are going to continue monitoring Flaco and his activities and to be prepared to resume recovery efforts if he shows any sign of difficulty or distress," the zoo said in a statement. "We will issue additional updates if there is a change in the eagle owl’s status or our plan changes.”

New Yorkers have been following Flaco's journey in person and online since his escape Feb. 2, when someone cut the stainless steel mesh in his exhibit. Flaco was spotted in several locations around Upper Manhattan and on various tree branches around Central Park. The Manhattan Bird Alert Twitter feed helped Flaco-watchers monitor him from afar.

Staff members with the Wildlife Conservation Society, which oversees most of the city’s zoos, have kept tabs on Flaco since his escape as well. At some points, zoo employees tried to lure him with tasty treats (dead rats), while standing by with handheld nets, workers said.

More than 1,300 people signed a Change.org petition urging the zoo to let Flaco remain free, or to relocate him to a more spacious sanctuary.

"If Flaco is captured, he will return to a TINY, sad looking excuse for an owl habitat," organizers wrote. "He deserves better. "

Birders watch Flaco, a Eurasian eagle owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo, in the park on Feb. 12.