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천연기념물 ‘칡부엉이’ 구조…자연의 품으로
State-protected owl rescued and released to nature

Jeju National University’s Jeju Wildlife Rescue Center announced Thursday (March 11) that a long-eared owl (scientific name: Asio otus) has been recovered from injuries and released to nature.

Previously on Feb. 26, the center rescued the bird in Jeoji-ri, a northwestern village on Jeju Island. When the rescue team found it, the owl was worn out after struggling to escape from a sticky trap after attempting to hunt a rat which had been stuck to the trap.

The bird at stake was transferred to the center, where it received emergency care and nutrition supply. With the sticky trap finally removed, the owl was able to be released in the area where it had been rescued.

The Asio otus inhabits temperate climate regions on the Eurasian and North American continents. Those that are distributed north of the Korean Peninsula migrate to the southern area in October to hibernate in coniferous forests. It is a winter migratory bird widely found in South Korea until late March.

During the breeding period in May, female ones lay four to six eggs and incubate them for four weeks. The birds leave their nests 24 days after the eggs hatch. The breed, with its perfect protective color, is known for undetected hunting skills. It usually preys on rats, frogs, insects, and small birds.

In Korea, the Asio otus is distinguished from general owl species. The most noticeable different is its ears. The Asio otus looks prick-eared due to the erected feathers, while general owls have no feather on their ears. Although short-eared owls (scientific name: Asio flammeus) also have ear feathers, they are much smaller than those of long-eared owls.

Currently, approximately 160 species of the family Strigidae are known to exist in the world. 11 of them are recorded to have been found in South Korea. The globally reducing farmlands, meadows, and coniferous forests have caused a decreasing population of the family Stridae. The Asio otus is a rare winter migratory bird found on Jeju Island and is protected as Natural Monument No. 324-5.