Active in New York for 1 Year After Zoo Escape
Regarded as Mascot... Appears to Have Died After Hitting Building
Placo, a barred owl that had been flying across the skies of New York for a year after escaping from the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan, New York, was reported to have died after colliding with a building. The US daily newspaper New York Times (NYT) reported on the 24th (local time), citing a statement from the US Wildlife Conservation Society, that "Placo died after hitting a building on West 89th Street and falling to the ground."
Owl Placo, who lived in the New York sky for a year after escaping from the zoo enclosure [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
A resident of the building found the owl on the ground and contacted the animal rescue organization Wild Bird Fund, which attempted to rescue it, but Placo soon passed away. The owl's body was transferred to the Bronx Zoo, and an autopsy is being prepared to determine the exact cause of death.
Placo became a 'mascot' of New York after escaping from the zoo last year. The owl was born in 2010 at a bird sanctuary in North Carolina, USA, and was transferred to the Central Park Zoo later that year.
Having lived in the zoo for nearly 13 years, Placo successfully escaped in February last year through a hole someone had made in the cage wire. Since then, Placo lived for a year soaring over New York. Photos and videos capturing Placo were shared on social media. The New York Police Department attempted to capture Placo but failed repeatedly, and online petitions were posted urging that Placo be allowed to remain free.
As a bird of prey, Placo is presumed to have hunted for food in New York. However, New York, filled with high-rise buildings, is a dangerous environment for birds. The NYT stated, "Colliding with buildings, especially windows, was likely one of the most lethal threats Placo faced," adding, "Other threats include rats poisoned by rodenticides and collisions with vehicles." It is reported that 230,000 birds die each year in New York City from collisions with buildings.
Meanwhile, as news of Placo's death spread, New Yorkers have begun to mourn. On social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), photos of Placo flying around New York during its lifetime and messages of condolence have been posted. Citizens wrote, "Thank you for visiting our home," "Rest peacefully in the sky," and "I'm glad he (Placo) lived freely, even if only for a short time."
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