Local school receives an owl box for newest member
A barn owl recently flew into a bathroom at the school and was unable to exit the building. The local SPCA released and collected it and after a checkup by JWV it was decided to release the owl back into the school.
Learners of Ramahlale primary school in Mamelodi East has welcomed a new member: a barn owl.
A barn owl recently flew into a bathroom at the school and was unable to exit the building.
Jordan-Michael Hardey from EcoSolutions representing the NPO Owlproject.org said the local SPCA collected the owl and it was sent to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWV) for a checkup.
“We have partnered with JWV to release the owl back into the school where it was found and EcoSolutions also sponsored an owl box at the school as a suitable breeding site for the owl,” said Hardey.
Certified owl handler Hussein Moyo educated learners about different owls that can be found in the country.
The learners were encouraged not to harm owls when they see them.
“Owls are important to the ecosystems in which they reside for a few reasons and they control the population of rats and other insects,” said Moyo.
He further explained to learners that if they see an owl during the day or night that it is not witchcraft or a sign that something bad will happen to you.
“We have around 200 different owl species and owls are active at night (nocturnal) and they have powerful talons (claws) which help them catch and kill prey,” said Moyo.
The donated owl box was placed in one of the trees at the school premises and before the owl was released inside the box the owl was tagged on the leg.
Learners were also told not to poison rats because owls can die from eating the poisoned rats.
School principal Modibedi Mmalefahla helped with the tagging and said he was happy for the opportunity for the learners to learn more about owls.
“We will try not to harm them when we see one at the school,” he promised.
Hardey believe education is the key to conservation.
“We strive to create owl-friendly children who then go on to be owl-friendly adults which creates an owl-friendly environment.”
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