Home / Environment / Rare Owl Emerges in Kuno Park Amidst Cheetah Reintroduction
Rare Owl Emerges in Kuno Park Amidst Cheetah Reintroduction
27 Feb
Summary
- Endangered forest owlet sighted for first time in Kuno National Park.
- The rare owl's presence suggests Kuno is becoming a healthy habitat.
- Cheetah reintroduction program may be aiding broader ecosystem recovery.
Kuno National Park has officially recorded the presence of the endangered forest owlet, a rare raptor species not previously seen in the park. This significant discovery occurred as eight cheetahs, part of a major reintroduction initiative after a 70-year absence, were expected to arrive from Botswana.
The sighting of the forest owlet, first documented by local tourism operator Labh Yadav and confirmed by wildlife experts, suggests that Kuno National Park is developing into a suitable habitat for endangered raptors. This indicates that conservation efforts focused on cheetahs are positively impacting the wider ecosystem.
The forest owlet, endemic to Central India, was believed to be extinct after 1884 but was rediscovered in 1997. It is currently found in fragmented habitats across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as 'Endangered,' with an estimated global adult population of 250 to 999.
