Metro
On-the-lam Flaco the owl can stay in the wild, thanks to his killer impulses, Central Park Zoo authorities state.
The incredibly elusive Eurasian eagle-owl — who caught New Yorkers’ hearts when he flew his vandalized zoo cage more than 2 weeks back — has actually been spending enough fur and bones from the rats he’s captured to show he can take care of himself, even after remaining in captivity, authorities said.
“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 Manhattan zoo ensured Flaco’s fans in a declaration over the weekend.
The look for Flaco, whose name suggests ”Skinny” in Spanish, started Feb. 2 when the zoo found vandals had actually cut the stainless-steel meshing at the stunning bird’s enclosure.
Since then, Flaco has actually gathered from treetop to treetop, avoiding his prospective captors, consisting of NYPD police officers, and collecting legions of fans worried that captivity had actually robbed him of nature’s impulses and left him not able to feed himself.
Those issues were advanced by reports that nobody saw him consuming throughout the early days of his escape.
But Flaco showed he can make it in the huge city as much as anybody else — by revealing clear indications he’s been packing himself on Central Park’s abundant bounty of rats, zoo authorities said.
“He has been very successful at hunting and consuming the abundant prey in the park,” the zoo said.
And that’s a good idea, due to the fact that he’d shown exceptionally difficult to corner as he overlooks Upper Manhattan near the renowned green space, consisting of by its skating rink. Flaco likewise has actually been understood to go to fancy Fifth Avenue, where he foiled law enforcement officers’ efforts to catch him at one point.
Desperate zoo authorities just recently attempted to draw the bird home with bait and recordings of eagle-owl calls.
But the cunning owl translucented the ploy and chosen liberty to relationship.
“Flaco has been doing well in Central Park. And that’s amazing,” said David Barrett, who runs the Twitter accounts Manhattan Bird Alert, Brooklyn Bird Alert and Bronx Bird Alert.
“He’s made an impressive relocation from being a captive owl to being in the wild much faster than anybody would have anticipated.
“He’s catching prey on his own. He continues to fly better and better,” Barrett said. “He seems to be enjoying himself out there.”
The Eurasian eagle-owl is among the bigger owl types, with a wingspan of approximately 79 inches, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
The birds have big talons and distinct ear tufts.
Such owls aren’t belonging to North America, so it’s uncertain how Flaco will do throughout breeding season, however, Barrett said.
“Is he going to be lonely out there? That’s a good question,” the birder said.
With Post wires
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