"Fuelled by various myths and superstitions, the nocturnal bird is illegally trafficked in thousands during Diwali." Owls have sustained a vivid presence in folklore, myths, and legends. However, their interesting intellect and persona also make them at risk of superstitious rituals, in turn making them prone to poaching and illicit trafficking.
''British scientists working in Ghana have rediscovered a "holy grail" giant owl that has lurked almost unseen in African rainforests for 150 years.'' Photo: Shelley’s Eagle Owl. Photo Credit: Dr. Robert Williams / Imperial College London
''We successfully tracked 30 bats over the 3-year period and found a positive correlation between home range size and temperature.'' Journal of Mammalogy, Ellen M Hall, Victoria J Bennett. Published: 13 October 2021
We see the owlet for the 1st time on 13th October 2021. This is the 4th episode in our Owl Breeding and Biology series - please share and enjoy! You can watch the ''Owl Cam Joburg'' live on our YouTube channel. The next few weeks are going to be very exiting as the owlets grow.
If a picture a worth a thousand words... what is a video worth? Bats eat up to 70% of their body weight in insects every night! This video of bats emerging from a bat bank over a sugar cane farm shows that bats are perfect for natural pest insect control on farms, stables and vineyards.
Scientific Reports, volume 11, Article number: 13634 (2021)
Owls 'prey' to be rescued from trafficking
