The feathered raptor

[Snowwalker]

Has anyone heard anything new about it? The last I know of, there was some debate over where it was going to be, with hopes of it being tameable and or a mount.

[Slickrock]

Seems at one point it was intended to be a pet, but they apparently replaced that model?

Would love to see it as a tameable raptor version.

[Wain]

I believe it's actually considered a bird, not a raptor, just as Anzu's model was.

The model is called "ThunderIsleYoungBird" and is in the same folder as the regular Thunder Isle birds, but then they could easily change their minds on that.

I haven't seen any on either isle. Or any of the new flying bird model either. Are they used in the new raid, maybe? I believe Ji-Kun is a new boss that uses the new flying model.

[SpiritBinder]

Originally I thought it could have actually ended up being the mount that dropped from Ji-Kun.

This would have made it the same as Alexstrasza being the flame hawk model, but dropping a ground mount version of itself.

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However the tool tip on the mount "Clutch of Ji-Kun" says "this is a flying mount" according to wowhead, which then dissolved that idea.

Clutch of Ji-Kun

That said it could show up as an NPC in one of the fights, but personally I really like this model as well, and it would be really great for it to end up and a pet or mount somehow

[Zhinru]

That model was called in the game files "thunderislebirdyoung" so my guess is it was meant as a mob and a mini-pet.

Also, I feel like I should point out "raptor" is technically an avian nomenclature that later got adopted by dinosaurs because of velociraptors.

[Wain]

Also, I feel like I should point out "raptor" is technically an avian nomenclature that later got adopted by dinosaurs because of velociraptors.

Yeah, I find it amusing we have two families with names that effectively mean the same thing. Birds of prey and Raptors