Beloved Hawk At Zoo Atlanta Dies In Fight

ATLANTA, GA — Tahoe the Harris hawk, a longtime member of the Zoo Atlanta's World of Wild Theater, has died, the zoo announced in a news release Thursday.

"It is apparent that Tahoe, who was housed in a secure outdoor mew, died from injuries sustained from an altercation with a wild animal," the zoo wrote, adding that Tahoe had been flying for audiences attending the theater for more than 20 years.

The zoo wrote that while it appreciates the fact that it shares its grounds with native wildlife, its teams are "assessing enclosures and pursuing additional preventative measures" to better keep animals safe.

Tahoe hatched in 1999 and joined Zoo Atlanta a year later, the zoo wrote, adding that "members and guests will no doubt remember his soaring flights and aerial magnificence as he introduced thousands of people to his species, native to the Southwest U.S. and often known as 'the wolves of the sky.'"

“Tahoe appeared to enjoy his opportunities for flights above an audience, and really seemed to enjoy flying low enough to cause a stir,” Rebecca Young, Curator of Ambassador Animals, said in the release. “He was a bird who made you work for your relationship with him, and he made you work to keep it.”