Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl had spent the first twelve years of his life in a small enclosure in the Central Park Zoo, unable to fly, until the night of February 2nd, 2023, when an unknown liberator cut a hole in the steel mesh of his cage and set him free. Flaco eluded the nets and traps of zoo authorities and park rangers who feared that Flaco couldn’t survive on his own, and instead, proved them all wrong, learning to hunt, fly, and make the city his home.




With rich imagery and illustrations, FLACO celebrates the work of the photographers who documented Flaco in his favorite city haunts, features works by artists who were inspired by Flaco’s story, and memorializes the objects left at the base of Flaco’s favorite Central Park oak upon his tragic passing.




FLACO is the ultimate tribute to the owl whose story captured the imagination and inspired millions around the world. 

Foreword by: Carl Safina