Three young collared scops owls have returned to their forest home at the Zijin Baixi Provincial Nature Reserve in Heyuan City, Guangdong Province.
Their journey back to the wild followed an ordeal that began in early June, when reserve staff discovered that poachers had targeted the owls' nest. Although local police swiftly intervened and returned the stolen chicks to their nest, the startled adult birds abandoned the site the following day.
Left out in the rain, with one chick shivering and its health deteriorating rapidly, the flightless young birds were quickly transferred to a professional rescue facility by the reserve team.
The collared scops owl is a rare, small species, smaller than an adult human's palm, and is listed as a national second-class protected animal in China. The species plays a crucial role in maintaining forest ecosystems by feeding on rodents and agricultural pests.
During their two-month rehabilitation, the chicks received careful hand-feeding and rigorous wilderness training. Having fully matured and mastered flying, foraging and predator-avoidance skills, they met all the physiological and survival standards required for release.
"This joint rescue highlights a deep respect for individual lives and is a vital practice in protecting biodiversity," said Xiao Jiajie, a senior engineer at the Guangdong Wildlife Monitoring and Rescue Center.
He urged the public to remember a golden rule when encountering lone wild animals: "no approaching, no feeding and no disturbing." He also advised residents to contact local forestry departments for assistance, ensuring the safety of both humans and nature.
Author | Dong Han
Photos | Heyuan Daily
