INTERNATIONAL OWL AWARENESS DAY- AUGUST 4

NIGHT HUNTERS OF ECOSYSTEM AND ILLEGAL HUNTERS OF MYTHS

INTERNATIONAL OWL AWARENESS DAY- AUGUST 4

 Do you know these owl species are about 130, these nighttime hunters of acute hearing capabilities can locate their prey in complete darkness with binocular vision? The silent prey-catching feature makes owls distinct from other birds. The significance of this beautiful living thing is not limited to the present, in the mythology of Greek and India they are demonstrated as the companion of the goddess Athena and Lakshmi respectively. Owls were exemplified as wisdom, intelligence, and foresight along with Athena the Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handcraft. According to Indian mythology, this bird is considered the vahana (divine carrier) of Lakshmi who is the enriching goddess of wealth to the earth according to some beliefs owls symbolize the accurate judgment of wealth allotment. The white owls are also treated equally to the Brahman upper caste of Hinduism at the same time the owls are feared and their major population is killed due to the myths of bad luck and misfortune, their strange way of hooting is regarded as a symbol of death as we examine the Native Americans traditions, it bifurcates in perspectives some connects them with the spirit world as well as the guardians of the night at the same time others see them as the symbol of death and bad omens.

Do these specialties are saving them from misbelieves, pouching, and harmful activities? Or is there an increase in blinded minds who strongly believes in superstitions and myths? India where every fauna and flora are worshipped then why does this never-ending anecdote of illegal activities like black magic flourishes? In the historic period, people used to hunt and kill owls like eagles due to myths, as well as unwanted fear these led to the tragic decrease in the owl population.  The human viewpoints differ but harming these species which is an essence to conserve the ecosystem in its balance can’t be justifiable. It is time to put an end to this chapter, if this superstition dominates the future will face the upshot. In the absence of these nocturnal birds, their prey will rapidly increase like rodents, and insects hence the enactment of artificial and hazardous pesticides will badly affect all. So we must save our companions who are directly or indirectly reaching the edge of endangered by us. We should allow our upcoming generation to witness the true beauty of diversities rather than making them just exist in stories and fantasy.