Injured owl returned to its urban home
STEYN CITY- FreeMe wildlife rehabilitation centre and EcoSolutions transferred a spotted eagle owl into a pre-release enclosure in Steyn City.
Nicci Wright, senior animal manager at FreeMe said two months ago the centre took in the spotted eagle owl which had been injured at the Steyn City development. “The owl’s wing had a complex fracture which required surgical pinning,” she said.
The owl’s pins have now been removed and post-operation physiotherapy has been done.
EcoSolutions, an organisation that has been involved in urban ecological planning and urban ecology for the past 15 years, erected the owl pen.
Jonathan Haw of EcoSolutions said they would keep the owl pen at Steyn City for the release of other birds that may get injured in the area.
“Spotted eagle owls, in particular, adapt very well to the urban environment so the construction in the development should not affect them,” he said.
The owl will live in the pre-release enclosure for two weeks during which time EcoSolutions hopes it’s mate will visit every night.
Haw explained that releasing an injured owl was a delicate process. Owls form territorial pairs so the injured owl has to be put back into the environment as soon as possible otherwise the mate will start searching for another mate.
EcoSolutions will feed the owl daily and monitor its progress via a live camera feed from outside it’s pen. “We are also giving training to all the staff at Steyn City to educate them about owls and other birds in the area,” Haw said.
“If anyone finds an injured owl please contact FreeMe wildlife rehabilitation as soon as possible because they are the only organisation in Gauteng who have the medical expertise to help these animals,” he added.
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