Forest police saved a rare collared scops owl that fell in front of a villager's house in Jinping County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. 

On Tuesday morning, police stationed in Dazhai Town of Jinping County received a call from a villager that an owl was found in front of his house. The owl was unable to fly.

Wild animal experts with Jinping County Fenshuiling National Nature Reserve Administration identified the bird as a collared scops owl, usually measuring 20-27 centimeters long and with a conspicuous neckband on the back. 

The species is rated as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and is under second-class national protection in China. 

Since there were no injuries found on the owl, the police speculated that it fell down due to fatigue. After the police gave the owl some food and water, it gradually recovered strength, so the police released it.

(Cover image via VCG)

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