4 days ago
Hawk returns to California zoo after 15-months in the wild: report
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.
3 Ripley the Harris's Hawk was missing from the Fresno
Chaffee Zoo since April 2024.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
On July 29, a bird-watching local in Prather, Ca., noticed the striking Harris's hawk in their backyard, the report stated.
3 Ripley pictured after his return home.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
3 The grateful bird flew towards the arms of his handlers after recognizing them at the Prather, Ca., area home.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
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.
