The most famous Eagle in the world.
Goldie was a male golden eagle who lived at London Zoo, England, during the 1960s. On 28 February 1965, Goldie managed to escape from his cage while it was being cleaned, fleeing to nearby Regent’s Park and the surrounding areas. He managed to avoid being recaptured for a period of 12 days.
His escape caused a nationwide sensation, with large crowds gathering to watch the bird’s keepers attempts to catch him. The zoo also received thousands of phone calls and letters from the concerned British public, and traffic jams formed in roads around the park, as drivers watched Goldie in flight.
Goldie’s escape was covered by BBC television, and he was even mentioned during a debate in the House of Commons. While free, Goldie attacked two terrier dogs in the park and killed and ate a duck in the garden of the official residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Goldie was finally caught on 11 March. Goldie escaped once again, between the 15 and 19 December 1965.
On 8 March 1985, Goldie was sent to the Falconry Centre in Newent, and died of cancer around a year later.