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Post-Release Survival of Hand-Reared Tawny Owls (Strix Aluco)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

J A Bennett  and
A D Routh
J A Bennett
Affiliation:
RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Hospital, London Road, Stapeley, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 7JW, UK
A D Routh*
Affiliation:
RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Hospital, London Road, Stapeley, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 7JW, UK
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints at: 24 Bridge Street, Wybunbury, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 7NE, UK
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Abstract

The post-release survival of hand-reared tawny owls, Strix aluco, was studied. Hand-rearing did not appear to affect the birds’ instinctive behaviour or post-release survival. The recovery of several pellets confirmed that hunting in this species is an innate process. In terms of animal welfare, hand-reared tawny owls do not appear to be at a disadvantage when compared with wild juveniles, indicating that current rearing and release practices are effective.

Keywords

animal welfarehand-rearedinstinctsjuvenilesurvivaltawny owls
Type
Short Communication
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , August 2000 , pp. 317 - 321
Copyright
© 2000 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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