An owl whose life in the wild captivated New Yorkers after an escape from a vandalized cage at a city zoo had a herpesvirus and poison in its system when it died last month, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Flaco the owl became a local celebrity after fleeing the Central Park Zoo in February 2023. At the time, animal experts warned the public of the risks the bird faced in the wild, The Washington Post reported.

The Eurasian eagle owl was found dead in the courtyard of a Manhattan building after it had flown into the Upper West Side structure on Feb. 23, according to onlookers.

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