Naval personnel at SLNS Dakshina in the Southern Naval Command had a unique opportunity to rescue a barn owl from drowning recently. On hearing the sound it had made, they rushed to a water tank where the bird had fallen accidently. They did not hesitate to utilize their life saving skills to save the life of the frightened bird. It was found drenched in cold water on the rainy night of 13th January 2011. The bird breathed happily having revived from the tender care extended by the Naval personnel to him at the unexpected moment.
Commanding Officer SLNS Dakshina Captain LHSR Lelwala commended the timely action of his men and handed the barn owl over to the Wild Life Officials to be released to its natural habitat in the following morning. Now, the bird roams freely in the mangroves on the banks of River Madhu humming praises to the brave men in blue who took pity on an innocent bird, which would otherwise have lost its life in a watery grave for lack of any attention.
The barn owl, a nocturnal bird of prey, has a heart-shaped face and small eyes set in rigid sockets. It possesses soft feathers and sound deadening filaments for silent flight. The bird has remarkable hunting skills known as “perch and pounce” and it silently swoops in, spreads its talons wide and pounces on its prey. Its population is limited in Sri Lanka and found mainly in north-western coastal areas, low-country dry zone and recently in wet zone.
ShriLankaNavy
