CENTRAL PARK — The inspiring true story of Flaco — the Eurasian owl that captured hearts when he escaped his habitat at the Central Park Zoo and lived free in Manhattan until he died in 2024 — will be celebrated in a new documentary out this month.
The world premiere of "Wild Inside," which charts the story of the beloved raptor, will be on Wednesday, July 29, on Central Park's Great Hill at 7:30 p.m.
"Flaco overcomes his years of captivity and lack of survival skills to answer the call of the wild—and discovers he was wild inside all along," the tagline of the movie reads.
The movie is sponsored by Rooftop Films, Sandbox Films, the Central Park Conservancy, and City Councilmember Gale Brewer's office.
Flaco was a regular Central Park Zoo resident until Feb. 2, 2023, when a vandal tore open his mesh enclosure.
His escape prompted a weeks-long recovery effort where zoo workers tried to entice him with food and owl calls, which didn't work.
He dodged every attempt to be caught, and eventually, officials suspended the search.
Zoo staff monitored the winged New Yorker throughout the year and were prepared to recover him if he showed any sign of difficulty or distress, officials said.
During this time, Flaco flew above city streets, peered into apartment windows, and captured the hearts of Manhattan birdwatchers who came to Central Park to catch a glimpse of him.
He became a social media sensation as residents posted pictures of him and regularly reported on his movements throughout the city.
But, on Feb. 23, 2024, Flaco sadly flew into an Upper West Side building and died from the impact, likely impaired by rat poison, which was later found in his system during a necropsy.
The premiere, which is free to attend with RSVP, is ahead of the documentary's theatrical release at the IFC on July 31.
The premiere of "Wild Inside" will be on Central Park's Great Hill, which is near the West 106th Street entrance of the park.
For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.
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