ILOILO City – An injured Eastern grass owl (Tyto longimembris) was rescued by a concerned citizen in Manapla, Negros Occidental.
The Eastern grass owl was found in a sugarcane plantation.
Victor Lapidez, chief of Manapla’s Natural Resources Office (ENRO), forwarded the Eastern grass owl to Cadiz City’s ENRO wildlife unit chief, Rezel S. Purisima.
Initial physical assessment showed the bird with an injured left wing. It was brought to the Cadiz City Veterinary Office for treatment and observation.
As of this writing, the bird is under the custody of Cadiz City ENRO for rehabilitation before its release back into the wild.
Eastern grass owls are usually found in tall grasses, and a sugarcane plantation is a good hideaway. They are also seen in swampy areas, grassy plains and even on sedges on flood plains. They prey on small mammals, particularly rodents.
“Owls, like all other birds, are very much a part of our diverse ecosystems and play a vital role in the check and balance of the natural environment. Whenever we see them, let us be careful not to harm or kill them,” said Livino B. Duran, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 6. (With a report from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-6)/PN
