HUNTERSVILLE – Santigi the red-tailed hawk passed away Monday, March 12, from complications due to aging. She was 31. Santigi was the oldest resident in the history of Carolina Raptor Center, and was one of the original residents of the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve site. She was admitted to the rehabilitation center as an orphan with a wing injury on May 28, 1982, from Rockingham.

Santigi served as an education bird for almost 10 years before moving into the red-tailed hawk display enclosure where she found her mate Henry, a 21-year-old, red-tailed hawk and permanent resident. Santigi was diagnosed with arthritis and retired in June 2011, moving to a behind-the-scenes enclosure at that time. Since then, she slowly declined, requiring pain medication to continue standing throughout the day. She passed away in the hospital.