KUCHING: A rare owl has been rescued by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) after it was found weak and unable to move at Piasau Nature Reserve.
SFC said on Dec 17, a ranger discovered a barred eagle owl and brought it to House 58 for rehabilitation.
“After three weeks of tender loving care, the owl has started its recovery. Currently the owl is still improving before we release it back to the forest,” SFC said in a press statement yesterday.
SFC said according to the ranger, the owl could have likely been illegally kept and abandoned by its irresponsible owner.
In light of this, SFC urged the public to surrender any wildlife to SFC staff instead of dumping them in the forest.
Barred eagle owl is a protected species under Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998 whereby killing, keeping, selling, buying the wildlife or its derivatives are prohibited by the law.
If found guilty, the perpetrator can be jailed for one year and fined RM10,000.
The public can lodge a report with SFC if they find anyone hunting, capturing, killing, trading, keeping as pets, importing or exporting of protected wildlife.
SFC hotlines are 016-856 5564/019-885 9996 (Kuching), 019-888 3561 (Sibu), 019-822 3449/019-833 2737 (Bintulu) and 019-829 0994/018-979 9778 (Miri).
