Rare Eurasian Owl rescued, released

NAGPUR: The Society for Wildlife Conservation, Education and Research (Wild-CER), city-based NGO working to rescue, treat and rehabilitate birds and animals, on Thursday saved an Eurasian Eagle Owl, which is a rare sighting in urban areas.

Dr Bahar Baviskar, a wildlife vet and founder of Wild-CER, said Eurasian Eagle Owl is mainly a nocturnal species and inhabits well wooded but open country and avoids heavy forest. The bird can be easily found on the banks of rivers and streams. It eats snakes, birds, rats and occasionally large insects. Sighting of such birds in urban areas is rare, Dr Baviskar said.

The owl was first sighted by Rakesh, an animal lover, in crowded Mahal area on July 23. The owl looked sluggish and some crows were harassing the owl.

Rakesh caught the owl and handed it over to animal-lover Pramod Kanetkar, who later brought the bird to Wild-CER. Dr Baviskar examined the bird and found that it was under severe stress.

Being a Scheduled bird under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972, Dr Baviskar informed deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) for Nagpur division P K Mahajan.

Mahajan allowed Dr Baviskar to take custody of the bird. After treatment, the owl was released in its natural habitat.

Eurasian Eagle Owl is one of the threatened species. Due to rapid urbanisation, the bird is fast vanishing from city areas.