New Yorkers mourn the loss of Flaco, the escaped zoo owl who captivated Manhattan.

Mourners gathered in Central Park to pay their respects to Flaco at his “favorite oak tree”; Photo: SETH WENIG/AP

Hundreds of mourners gathered in New York's Central Park on Sunday to remember a rare owl that died after flying into a Manhattan building.

A Eurasian eagle owl named Flaco escaped from zoo last year and, despite the odds of surviving in the wild, has become a popular attraction for park visitors.

The memorial was held at what organizers called «Flaco's beloved oak tree» and was accompanied by speeches, songs and poetry . Efforts are also being made to install a statue of the bird.

Flaco, who had a wingspan of 6 feet, was seen eating four rats in one sitting Photo: SETH WENING/AP

David Ley, a wildlife photographer, told the crowd: “We hoped he would be rescued quickly and without incident. But Flaco had other ideas, and before our eyes he turned into a wild bird.”

Jacqueline Emery, another photographer, recalled how much she enjoyed Flaco's hoots. “He was just starting to find his voice. Over time, his hooting will become louder and more confident,” she said.

The owl's 6-foot wingspan and eye-catching plumage have inspired thousands of photos and videos from park visitors who encountered Flaco during his 12 months existence. freedom.

On February 23, however, his escapade ended in tragedy when Flaco's body was found on the Upper West Side, near a park, after apparently hitting a building.

One of the mourners said that Flaco «turned into a wild bird before our eyes» Photo: GINA MOON/BLOOMBERG

Flaco used to live at the Central Park Zoo, where he was fed and cared for by staff, but flew away after vandals cut a hole in his steel mesh cage in February 2023. The police are still looking for them. Responsibility lies.

Flaco was initially spotted on Fifth Avenue, the city's iconic shopping district, and then evaded police attempts to catch him on 60th Street. It subsequently flew to Central Park, an 843-acre green belt in the heart of the city, and found a home for the next year among the trees and greenery.

Having spent its entire life in captivity, the animal had little chance of developing its flying or hunting skills, but he seemed to thrive outside the zoo and was regularly seen taking advantage of New York City's rodent problem by eating up to four rats in one sitting.