Owl festival in Dang on May 1-2

Ghorahi (Dang), April 28: In a bid to conserve an endangered species of bird, the owl, a two-day festival is being organized here. An owl festival is being held in the Biodiversity Park of Lamahi in Dang on May 1-2.

The Ajammari Community Forest Users’ Group of Lamahi and the Prakitika Sathiharu, an organization in Kathmandu, are jointly organizing the festival. They have aimed at conserving the owl, a bird known as the friend of farmers.

It is the first time such a festival is being organized in Dang district, according to Director of the Prakitika Sathiharu, Raju Acharya. He stressed the urgency of public awareness to curb poaching and the illegal trade of owls.

The Eurasian barn owls are an endangered species of birds. The event also makes people aware of biodiversity and the need to advance initiatives to conserve the birds for environmental balance. Director Acharya further shared that the festival was earlier held in Dhading, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Gorkha, Karki, Kapilbastu, Dolakha and Khotang districts.

Chairman of Forest Users’ Group of Lamahi, Pavan Sharma Rijal, said local people would be given orientation on how they could work for protecting the valuable birds for environmental balance. The loss of habitat with the construction of modern houses and deforestation is threatening owls’ existence.

The two-day festival also features bird watching, a mini museum, a robot exhibition and a screening of a documentary. Even the sports of the indigenous Tharu, Magar and Kumal communities would be played on the occasion.

Although the owl is found in all geographies- from the southern plains to the mountains of Nepal, the exact number of this species is unknown.

Hunting and selling of this bird is illegal in Nepal. If anyone is found involved in such acts, he/she is subjected to a fine of Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 and jail terms from six to 12 months.

It is estimated that 23 species of owl are found across the globe. In Nepal, among 886 species of birds found in Nepal, 39, including the owl, are endangered ones.