12th Nepal Owl Festival begins in Dhanusha

By Vijay Kumar Sah,Dalkebar, Feb. 8: The 12th Nepal Owl Festival started on Friday in Purandaha, Mithila Bihari Municipality-2, Dhanusha. The two-day festival aims to raise awareness about the role of owls in nature conservation.

The festival is being organised near Chandeshwar Basic School in collaboration with the Mithila Wildlife Trust, Dhanusha and “Friends of Nature,” an organisation working for the environment and biodiversity.

According to Deva Narayan Mandal the coordinator of the main organising committee, the event would contribute significantly to environmental conservation and inspire children to develop a love for nature and its protection.

The festival features various activities, including traditional Mithila cultural dances, exhibitions of indigenous sports, sales of local delicacies and displays of handicrafts. 

A special owl-themed robot, a temporary museum and an audio-visual setup to experience the sounds and videos of eight different owl species have been arranged. Similarly, a specimen of an owl from Tribhuvan University’s Natural History Museum is on display.

Wildlife researchers and environmental conservation experts will provide insights into bird conservation, wildlife trafficking prevention and ecological balance. Local products are also being showcased and made available for sale.

Rajendra Acharya, Director of Friends of Nature, highlighted the vital role of owls in agriculture. A single owl can consume nearly 3,000 mice in one season, benefiting farmers. Owls also help control insect populations, snakes and frogs, making them crucial for ecological balance, he informed.

There are currently 23 species of owls in Nepal, eight of which are considered rare and two are believed to be extinct. More than 2,000 owls are illegally trafficked from Nepal each year, posing a serious threat to environmental stability, according to Acharya.

The festival has previously been successfully held in Dhading, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Gorkha, Kaski, Kapilvastu, Dolakha and Khotang. This year’s event is expected to significantly enhance owl conservation awareness in eastern Nepal. The opening ceremony saw the participation of local representatives, conservationists, students and nature enthusiasts.

(Photo: An illustration of an owl displayed at the festival. Photo by Vijay Kumar Sah.)