FOREST OWLET REDISCOVERED IN KUNO NATIONAL PARK AFTER 113 YEARS from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

FOREST OWLET REDISCOVERED IN KUNO NATIONAL PARK AFTER 113 YEARS

Why in News?

• The Forest Owlet, a rare bird species endemic to central India, has been spotted in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh after 113 years.
• The sighting is significant for biodiversity conservation and indicates improving ecosystem health in the region.

DISCOVERY IN KUNO NATIONAL PARK

• The rare bird was first spotted by Labh Yadav, a local tourism operator, in the Parond Beat area of Kuno National Park.
• After the sighting:
  • Forest officials were informed
  • The species was confirmed by Vivek Patel from the Wildlife Research and Conservation Society
• This marks the first recorded sighting of the Forest Owlet in Kuno National Park.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE FOREST OWLET

• First discovered in 1872
• Last recorded sighting in 1884
• After that, the species was believed to be extinct
• However, in 1997, the bird was rediscovered in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra, surprising the scientific community.

DISTRIBUTION OF FOREST OWLET

• The species is endemic to central India.
• It has been observed in:
  • Madhya Pradesh
  • Maharashtra
  • Gujarat
  • Odisha
  • Chhattisgarh

Important habitats include:

• Melghat Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra)
• Forest areas in Khandwa, Burhanpur and Betul districts of Madhya Pradesh

HABITAT OF FOREST OWLET The species prefers:

• Tropical and Subtropical Moist Lowland Forests
• Dense Deciduous Forests
• Open Dry Deciduous Teak Forests
• Tropical Dry Forests

These habitats are mostly found in central Indian forest ecosystems. UNIQUE FEATURES OF FOREST OWLET

• The Forest Owlet belongs to the owl family Strigidae.
• Important characteristics:
  • Unspotted crown
  • Full throat collar
  • Heavily banded wings and tail
  • Thickly feathered legs
• Unlike most owls, the Forest Owlet is diurnal, meaning it is active during the daytime.
• It usually hunts between 6 AM and 10 AM.

DIET OF FOREST OWLET

• The bird mainly feeds on:
  • Rodents
  • Reptiles such as lizards and skinks
  • Insects
• This makes it an important part of the forest ecosystem and food chain.

CONSERVATION STATUS

• The Forest Owlet is a highly threatened species.
• Current status:
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I (highest level of protection against international trade)
• Global population estimate: around 250–999 adult birds.
• The biggest threat is habitat loss and forest fragmentation.

IMPORTANCE OF THE DISCOVERY

• The sighting in Kuno National Park is important because:
• It shows improvement in biodiversity conservation
• It indicates a healthy forest ecosystem
• It may be linked to broader conservation efforts such as the Cheetah Reintroduction Project
• Kuno National Park is already known for hosting cheetahs and diverse wildlife.

CONCLUSION The rediscovery of the Forest Owlet in Kuno National Park after 113 years is a major milestone for wildlife conservation in India. It highlights the importance of protecting forest habitats and shows that effective conservation efforts can help rare species survive and recover.   Note: Connect with Vajirao & Reddy Institute to keep yourself updated with latest UPSC Current Affairs in English. Note: We upload Current Affairs Except Sunday.