Missing hawk returns to Fresno Chaffee Zoo after 15 months

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Ripley, a Harris's Hawk who has been missing from the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for implicit a year, has returned!

EDITOR'S NOTE: The video supra is from a erstwhile broadcast and volition beryllium updated.

Zoo officials accidental that connected July 29, idiosyncratic successful Prather noticed an unfamiliar vertebrate successful their yard. Their probe led them to the communicative astir Ripley, and they contacted the zoo.

Prather is astir 25 miles distant from the zoo.

They were capable to corroborate that the vertebrate was so Ripley.

Staff members went into the pond and called for Ripley. He flew to them aft astir 20 minutes.

"It was genuinely a monolithic effort from everyone successful the Fresno community, and we are endlessly grateful to everyone who shared his story, sent successful sightings and supported the hunt to bring Ripley backmost wherever helium belongs," said Ronnie Kerestus, the zoo's Curator of Outreach.

Ripley initially went missing successful April of 2024 aft being chased disconnected zoo grounds by autochthonal reddish tailed hawks.

Officials accidental that Ripley is successful bully wellness and is receiving attraction astatine the zoo's facility. They person not confirmed if helium volition instrumentality to the Bird Show.