Jester The Crested Caracara Recaptured


Exotic bird had escaped from London Zoo for over two weeks


Jester the Crested Caracara. Picture: Twitter/ZSL

London Zoo has announced that Jester The Crested Caracara has been returned home.

The exotic bird, which is type of falcon native to North America, flew away while being trained in Regent’s Park on Tuesday 22 March and had been regularly sighted across south west London.

Two days after her escape, Jester, who has a wing span of 4 feet, was spotted in the gardens of the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney. A zookeeper was called but was unsuccessful in his attempt to tempt her down from a tree in which she had perched even with an offer of her favourite food of snails.

The keeper said that she was unlikely to return until she got hungry. She was subsequently sighted several more times in the area and in Barnes. She had more recently taken up residence in a park in Lewisham.

On 4 April London Zoo posted on Twitter, “We’re delighted to confirm that Jester the caracara is safely back home at London Zoo, and reunited with her brother Joker. She’s well settled, and enjoyed her homecoming treat of quail. Thanks for all of your support!”


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April 8, 2022