MARGAO
The Margao police silently played host to an endangered stranger Wednesday night. A Barn Owl, which is protected under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, made its way into the Margao police station premises without the knowledge of the men-in-uniform and stayed put inside the crime room the entire night before its presence came to light on early Thursday morning.
The presence of the Barn Owl was spotted at around 8.30 am on Thursday when the policemen working in the office opened the crime room, only to find the owl seating on a table. As news of the owl’s presence rent the air, Police writer, Sameer N, took the initiative to rescue the owl before taking the same to his office. “I rescued the owl before intimating the episode to Animal Rescue squad member Julio Quadros. The owl was later handed over to Julio by Margao police station in-charge, PI Kapil Nayad,” Sameer said.
Police suspects that the owl must have made its way into the crime room via the open window before spending the entire night.
Julio Quadros told The Goan that the Barn Owl is a protected species under the Wild Life Act, adding that the Forest department will release the owl in its natural habitat.
