Rare owl released into wild after nine-month treatment in Turkey’s south

MERSİN - Demirören News Agency

A rare “fish owl” has been released into the wild in the southern province of Mersin after being treated for nine months for a broken wing.

The injured owl was found by locals in a forest in Mersin and handed over to teams from the Mersin Directorate General for Nature Conservation and National Parks.

The owl received treatment for nine months at the Tarsus Animal Park in Mersin. Following its recovery, the rare species was released into the wild.

“When it was brought here, our veterinaries figured that the owl had a fracture in its right broken wing. Treating bone fractures takes time but it is fine now. During the treatment process there were times we had to hand-feed the owl. It is good and strong enough to look after itself in the wilderness. As it recovered, we have handed over the animal to the Directorate General for Nature Conservation and National Parks,” Altay Atlı, a biologist at the Tarsus Animal Park, said.

This rare species, which belong to the nocturnal predatory animal family, live only in certain parts of the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The species do not inhabit Europe.

They are an endangered species facing the risk of extinction.