NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — One day after the death of beloved New York City Eurasian eagle-owl Flaco, the Central Park Zoo released findings from a necropsy performed by pathologists at the Bronx Zoo that found his death was caused by acute traumatic injury.
Flaco, who escaped the Central Park Zoo in February 2023 and quickly became one of Manhattan’s favorite celebrities, was believed to have died after colliding with an Upper West Side building, zoo officials said Friday.
The initial findings of the necropsy are consistent with death caused by acute traumatic injury, and the main injuries were found in his body. Pathologists found substantial hemorrhaging under his sternum and around his liver.
While there was a small amount of bleeding behind his left eye, zoo officials found no other evidence of head trauma. No bone fractures were found.
According to the Central Park Zoo, Flaco was in good body condition at his time of death, with good muscling and adequate fat storage.
“Flaco’s tragic and untimely death highlights the issue of bird strikes and their devastating effects on wild bird populations,” the Central Park Zoo said. “It is estimated that nearly one quarter of a million birds die annually in New York City as a result of colliding with buildings.”
Tests will continue to see if there were any underlying health issues that contributed to Flaco’s death, including a microscopic evaluation of tissue samples; toxicology tests checking for exposure to rodenticides or damaging toxins; and testing for infectious diseases like Avian Influenza.
According to the Central Park Zoo, officials had been keeping track of Flaco since his escape, and were prepared to recover him if he was suffering from difficulty or distress.
“We appreciate all the support and concern over the well-being of Flaco throughout the past year and the many people who contacted us with updates,” the zoo said Friday.