The hawk is in.
A California zoo’s months-long search for a beloved hawk came to an end with the raptor flying into the arms of the handlers it recognized, according to a report.
Ripley, a star for the Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s Bird Show, fled the coup in April 2024 after an encounter with a pair of aggressive red-tailed hawks, according to a KMPH report.
On July 29, a bird-watching local in Prather, Ca., noticed the striking Harris’s hawk in their backyard, the report stated.
That person then learned of Ripley’s tale online and reported the sighting to Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
When hawk handlers arrived, Ripley recognized his longtime caretakers and, after 20 minutes, flew directly into their arms, according to the report.
“Ripley’s return is a testament to the relationships built between our animals and Zoo staff,” Ronnie Kerestus, the Zoo’s Curator of Outreach, told KMPH.
Kerestus further expressed gratitude for the “massive effort” of the Fresno community in returning Ripley to his habitat.
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