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If you're a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, then you're already familiar with snowy owls, the cute and charismatic birds that served as the wizard's closest companion.
Now, New Yorkers will be able to see the rare and mystical animals in the flesh: a pair just of them just set up home at the Bronx Zoo.
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The two newest additions to the uptown institution include a six-year old female that has been described as "fierce" and a juvenile male with a "shy disposition," according to the zookeepers.
Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of North America, Europe and Russia. Unlike many other owls, this specific species, known for being monogamous, is active during both the day and night. Although they're not endangered, the animals are considered "vulnerable" to extinction, mostly due to climate change, which has made their habitats uncharacteristically warm.
It's no secret that New Yorkers love owls, an obsession that reached a fever pitch when Flaco, a Eurasian eagle-owl that escaped the Central Park Zoo, became a sort of folk hero. Then, when he crashed head-first into a building and died in February, his death prompted a frenzy that gave birth to owl-themed merch, tributes and murals all over the city.
You can go check out the snowy owls in the Birds of Prey section of the Bronx Zoo, which also houses king vultures, golden eagles and the Cinereous Vulture, the largest eagle in Eurasia, with a 10-foot wingspan.
The Bronx Zoo is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm, and weekends and holidays from 10am until 5:30pm. Tickets range from $20.95 for children to $30.95 for adults, with free admission for kids under two and zoo members. You can get your tickets here.