Unseen Rare Owl Makes First Public Appearance in 150 years (photos)- IFLSCIENCE.

The Shelley’s eagle owl (Bubo shelleyi) swooped back into the public eye after a 150-year hiatus, making its long-awaited reappearance in Ghana. The species, dubbed the “holy grail” of giant owls, has evidently been lurking in the shadows of African rainforests for the last 150 years, having not been formally sighted since the 1870s. 

Though large, these birds are well camouflaged for arboreal life and so it would still have been easy to miss. Thankfully, this particular individual didn’t go unnoticed by Dr Joseph Tobias from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London, and freelance ecologist Dr Robert Williams, who managed to secure a fitting profile shot.

“It was so large, at first we thought it was an eagle,” Dr Tobias said in a statement. “Luckily it perched on a low branch and when we lifted our binoculars our jaws dropped. There is no other owl in Africa’s rainforests that big."

The photo was able to confirm the Shelley’s eagle owl’s identity owing to the bird exhibiting its characteristic features, which include distinctive black eyes, a yellow bill, and its enormous size. The species is currently considered to be vulnerable to extinction, with its key threats including habitat degradation due to human activity. With a population that’s estimated to sit at just a few thousand members, conservationists hope the owl’s latest appearance will motivate fresh efforts to save the species.


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if na my country dem for done shoot am post am for NL and dey go come blame sapa .

If seen at night it's a witch. Ask village people.

Really? Owls are normally beautiful. This one is not.

If seen at night it's a witch. Ask village people.

I have a tender spot in my heart for animals that are considered creepy in Nigeria


I'll like getting an owl and a cat for a pet.

Beautiful bird

ChiefSosa:
Owls are super scary. You won't understand until you see one, especially when they're turning their heads.
Imagine seeing this particular owl in my compound...I will just move out. I may even change to another City.

and big