An injured wild Eurasian eagle owl was rescued by forest police in Fuding City in China's eastern Fujian Province on January 22.
The animal, which had sustained a minor injury on its left wing after being trapped in a fishing net, was taken to a local environmental protection center for treatment.
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Zhu Changcang, the director of the Fuding Youth Environmental Volunteer Association, identified the animal as a wild Eurasian eagle owl, listed under China's second-level national protected species. The eagle owl was set free later after recovering from its injury.
Eurasian eagle owl in snow /VCG Photo
Eurasian eagle owl in snow /VCG Photo
The Eurasian eagle, one of the largest species of owl, resides in many parts of Eurasia and is commonly found in mountain regions and forests. It's a nocturnal predator that feeds on small mammals, birds, fish, and other invertebrates.
Eurasian eagle owl and its prey. /VCG Photo
Eurasian eagle owl and its prey. /VCG Photo
The owl can live for more than 20 years in the wild. It is considered an apex predator which means they usually don't have natural predators. But they can be killed by shooting, traffic accidents and electrocution.
Eurasian eagle owls. /VCG Photo
Eurasian eagle owls. /VCG Photo
In China, the bird is also threatened by illegal poaching, and in traditional Chinese medicine theory, the de-feathered and eviscerated eagle owl is thought to be of help in treating rheumatism.
The Eurasian eagle owl is evaluated as of "least concern" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.