Flaco, the beloved owl who captivated the hearts of New Yorkers with his sightings around Manhattan, tragically passed away last month due to underlying conditions consistent with urban wildlife. Despite being found dead in the courtyard of an apartment building in New York City’s Upper West Side, Flaco’s former home at the Central Park Zoo, the circumstances surrounding his death were revealed by zoo officials. A necropsy showed that Flaco suffered from severe pigeon herpesvirus and had ingested four anticoagulant rodenticides commonly used for rat control, which significantly contributed to his demise.
These underlying conditions, in addition to acute traumatic injury from striking the building, were ultimately debilitating and fatal for Flaco. The herpesvirus caused tissue damage and organ inflammation, making it a fatal threat for birds of prey like him. Flaco had been flying freely over Central Park and nearby neighborhoods for over a year after escaping from his enclosure following a vandal’s breach. Despite his adaptation to city life, the hazards faced by wild birds in an urban setting greatly impacted his health and longevity, leading to his untimely death.
The investigation into Flaco’s death remains ongoing, with no suspects arrested as of yet, according to the New York Police Department. The zoo emphasized that Flaco’s passing highlights the dangers that wild birds, especially in city environments, face from infectious diseases, toxins, and injuries. His tragic end serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks that wildlife encounter in urban areas, even as they attempt to adapt and thrive amidst the concrete jungle of New York City.