Owls are being hunted for meat in Patariya VDC of Kapilvastu district. 

Shyam Tharu, a local owl hunter from Anharat village, said alone has captured 16 owls till date. 

“Owls are quite easy to catch as they cannot see during the day,” Tharu said. 

There are many for whom owl hunting has become the main source of income as there is no shortage of buyers in the market. An owl could be bought for around Rs 150 in the market. Since they are cheaper than chicken, there are many who prefer owl’s meat.  

Basanta Giri, a local, said many endangered owl species could have been killed for meat, but there is no one to stop the practice. Most people do not know what endangered species are, he said. “There is always a group of people hunting owls in the forest. The concerned authorities are apparently unaware.”

District Forest Officer Rakesh Karna said they will take legal action against the persons involved in owl hunting. 

n A local owl hunter shows a pair of owls he had caught to sell them in the market. Post Photo