Why in news?
Birdwatchers near Karnataka’s Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary recently recorded the first‑ever sighting of an Indian Scops‑Owl in the area. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the sanctuary, which is better known for its sloth bears, and expands the known range of this elusive nocturnal bird.
Background
The Indian Scops‑Owl (Otus bakkamoena) is a small owl native to South Asia. Measuring about 23–25 cm in length with a wingspan of roughly 45 cm, it has ear tufts and a stocky body. Its upper plumage is grey or brown with fine buff spotting, while the underparts are buff with darker streaks. The bird’s facial disc is whitish or buff, and the eyes can be orange or brown. Males and females look similar.
Unlike some of its relatives, the Indian Scops‑Owl is non‑migratory. It inhabits forests, scrublands and even farmland across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Iran. Its nocturnal lifestyle and excellent camouflage make it hard to spot; the species is usually located by its soft, single‑note call or by observing small birds mobbing it while it roosts in trees. The owl feeds mainly on insects and nests in tree cavities, laying three to five eggs. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as a species of Least Concern.
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, located in Ballari district of Karnataka about 15 km from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi, is Asia’s first sloth bear sanctuary. Established in 1994 and later expanded, it spans about 82.7 sq km of dry deciduous scrub and thorn forest. Once degraded hillocks, the landscape has been transformed through conservation efforts. The sanctuary provides habitat not only for sloth bears but also for leopards, monitor lizards, pangolins and numerous bird species. That a scops‑owl has been recorded here suggests the area’s growing ecological diversity.
Significance of the sighting
This sighting demonstrates that the Indian Scops‑Owl may have a wider distribution than previously documented, underscoring the importance of careful observation and habitat protection. Recording the owl in a sloth bear sanctuary also shows how conservation measures aimed at one species can benefit others. Continued monitoring will help ornithologists understand the owl’s range and behavior better.
Source: The New Indian Express · Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary · Indian Scops‑Owl