Romeo, 32-year-old falcon, becomes world's oldest documented hunting falcon

Romeo, a hunting falcon originally from Slovakia, has become the first scientifically documented falcon in the world to reach the age of 32. This achievement sets a new record for the European hunting falcon species.

According to Dr. Rusko Petrov of the Wildlife Rescue Center in Stara Zagora, Romeo is currently residing at the Boynitsi Zoo. The bird's longevity is significant, as most of his peers typically live between 23 and 25 years. While another bird reached 30, Romeo is the only one of his age to be the subject of such scientific study.

Romeo, who arrived in Bulgaria with his mate Juliet, has played a vital role in local conservation. His offspring, numbering over 60, have helped restore the species as a nesting population within Bulgaria after a 20-year period of absence in the wild.