Stork still missing from park despite many suspected sightings
The painted stork that flew away from the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park is still on the loose despite dozens of suspected sightings, zoo officials said Thursday.
About 100 calls and emails -- including one from Phoenix -- have been received, but most of them have been for a great blue heron and a snowy egret, officials said.
The bird flew away Monday during a training exercise. A warm wind is thought to have lifted the bird outside the park grounds.
The year-old stork, a species native to Asia, is full grown at nearly 3 feet tall and with a wing span of nearly 5 feet. It is not considered an expert at flying.
Because it has spent its entire life at the park, it may not have coping skills for living in the wild.
Anyone spotting a bird that they feel is the painted stork is asked to email publicrelations@sandiegzoo.org or call (619) 318-3348.
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tony.perry@latimes.com
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