a The beautiful, spotted wood owl lay before my eyes, dead on arrival. it was sent to RESQ Wildlife Remedies and Rehabilitation Center by the personnel of the Satara Forest Department, who, on getting information, recovered a person from his house from illegal captive. This had damaged feathers, became severely dehydrated, and had bleeding profusely before dying.
While we light up our homes and lives this week, the festival is not so bright for many animals, who suffer torture and death due to superstitious rituals on the auspicious days between Dussehra and Diwali—the owls are the most victims. And is one of the sacrificial animals.
“We often find Indian eagle owls, spotted wood owls and other birds of prey like eagles and kites when they are subjected to superstitious rituals. Owls are usually caught in the wild, carried by train in bags and buckets or with their feet tied tightly and their claws cut off,” said Tuhin Sattarkar, director of wildlife rescue unit at RESQ, Pune. it is said.
“Feathers, claws, hearts, blood, eyes, beaks, eggshells, bones and, believe it or not, their tears, which usually have a watery discharge from their eyes when subjected to stress, in mystical rituals and black magic.” Used to practice,” says Satarkar.
According to Dr Sushruta Shirbhate, wildlife veterinarian at RESQ Charitable Trust, the recovery rate of owls subjected to illegal captive or superstitious practices depends entirely on when they were rescued. Some of these rescued birds had cuts on their legs because they were tied tightly. “The rope or string used is often found cut or embedded in the skin, leading to a deeper infection. They still go well. However, those who come with limbs or feathers and are badly injured or severely dehydrated or transported in poor condition for several days, often do not do so,” he adds.
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why owl Huh sacrifice
There are many superstitions and conflicting beliefs about owls. One school of thought holds that Goddess Lakshmi, the Indian goddess of wealth, power and splendor, when welcomed into our homes and worshiped on Diwali, should not be allowed to visit. To accomplish this, he There Or the vehicle, the barn owl, must be destroyed or sacrificed. In this way the presence of the Goddess and the property associated with it is maintained in the house.
Owls are solitary and nocturnal birds whose big-eyed stare, behavior and hoarse calls are associated with misfortune, misfortune, or death. Another school of thought holds that the malefic Alakshmi—the elder twin sister of the goddess Lakshmi, who is considered the opposite of her shadow—accompanies her in a different form wherever she goes. Believers see the owl as a counterpoint to this ominous form, and conspired to destroy it as a result.
Traditional healers and priests are also very responsible for creating demand for raptor body parts, which include eagles, kites and owls. They mislead individuals to believe that they can be cured of health problems or ill effects if they consume or use these parts in rituals.
Dr. Satish Pandey, ornithologist and founder of ela foundation, Recounts an incident when he met young boys in a remote village in the northeastern part of Maharashtra – the extremely poor who had barely any clothes – carrying an owl in a bag with a slingshot which he tried to catch was used. On questioning them, he reveals that they were planning to eat the owl’s eyes, which would allow them to see the buried treasure. It’s a bizarre explanation, but unfortunately, there are many such myths that make owls a prime target for capture, trade, and unimaginable torture.
“The section of the society that believes in these myths is generally seduced by thugs or superstitions in rural areas. The Ela Foundation organizes and hosts the annual ‘Indian Owls Festival’ at Ela Habitat in Pingori, Pune for the past two years, where there is a large gathering with children and communities to dispel myths and educate them about the ecological importance of owls. Awareness programs are organized on a large scale. ,” says Pandey.
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why you should give a hoot
India is home to over 35 species of owls, both resident and migratory. These nocturnal birds of prey play an extremely important role in maintaining ecological balance by feeding on rodents, reptiles, insects and amphibians.
They are prolific rodent hunters and keep agricultural pest populations under control. Owls in India are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, which prohibits their hunting, trade and use in any form. Yet every year, owls are slaughtered for sacrifice, especially in rural areas and small towns in India’s northeastern and central states.
While their ecological role is little appreciated by those indulging in superstitious acts, it is ironic that anyone believes that they would gain good fortune by suffering or dying an innocent animal. The limited capacity of enforcement agencies to identify criminals makes this crime difficult to detect.
If you’re wondering how you can help, this Diwali, as you light up your homes and hearts, take some time to spread awareness among those around you—especially smaller towns. And people from villages who may come in contact with such misinformation.
Dispelling these myths, a person could carry a simple message miles away at a time, and an owl could possibly be hooting safely in the darkness and stillness of the night.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)