Flaco the Owl cause of death is surfacing on the internet. On February 23, 2024, a large crowd gathered for Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl’s funeral, presuming his death due to colliding with a building. Further investigation revealed additional factors contributing to his accident.
Flaco died after hitting a water tower on West 86th Street, east of Columbus Avenue, in the Upper West Side. People heard his hoots in the area, and later found him on the Upper West Side. Keep reading the article to discover Flaco, the Owl cause of death.
Flaco the Owl Cause of Death
A necropsy report has finally disclosed Flaco the Owl cause of death to be ‘acute traumatic injuries’ from flying into the building. Bronx Zoo veterinary pathologists conducted a necropsy. The report also concluded that he had poison and a virus, which would have killed him anyway. He was the target of these infectious diseases after living in Manhattan for more than a year.
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On Monday, the Wildlife Conservation Society, responsible for operating both the Central Park and Bronx Zoos, articulated the matter.Â
According to the necropsy results, “He had a severe pigeon herpesvirus from eating feral pigeons that had become part of his diet, and exposure to four different anticoagulant rodenticides that are commonly used for rat control in New York City. The identified herpesvirus can be carried by healthy pigeons but may cause fatal disease in birds of prey including owls infected by eating pigeons. Flaco’s severe illness and death are ultimately attributed to a combination of factors — infectious disease, toxin exposures, and traumatic injuries — that underscore the hazards faced by wild birds, especially in an urban setting.”
The zoo officials cleared the case by explaining the cause of death. They said, “In addition to the traumatic injuries, Flaco had two significant underlying conditions.”
Flaco not only suffered a head injury, but he also had four kinds of rat poison and had “pigeon herpesvirus” from eating feral pigeons in his system. The WCS press release stated that “the viral infection caused severe tissue damage and inflammation in many organs, including the spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, and brain.”Â
“It’s hard to tell if one of these was the predominate cause of illness and death, but certainly the fact that he had those three things happening, any one of which could have been fatal,” added Dr. Paul Calle, chief veterinarian for the Wildlife Conservation Society.
The Central Park Zoo stated, “These factors would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury, and may have predisposed him to flying into or falling from the building.”
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Central Park Zoo’s Role in Flaco’s Death
Other than these significant factors, toxicology results revealed the presence of DDE, a byproduct of the pesticide DDT. However, according to the Central Park Zoo, the amount was minute and could not contribute to his declining health.
Flaco was a beloved and famous bird in the city. Rita McMahon, director of the Wild Bird Fund, stated, “Everyone was connected with that bird and he was a fabulous ambassador. Just inspiring with his own life.”
