Shelley’s eagle owl (Bubo shelleyi) returned last week after a 150-year hiatus and was spotted in Ghana. Dubbed the “holy grail” of giant owls because it hasn’t been officially seen since the 1870s, the species has apparently been lurking in the shadows of the African rainforest for the past 150 years.
Despite their large size, these birds are well concealed for arboreal life and are therefore not easily spotted. Luckily, this particular bird managed to get a suitable profile shot by Dr. Joseph Tobias and freelance ecologist Dr. Spotted by Robert Williams.
Dr. “It was so big we thought it was an eagle at first,” Tobias said in a statement.
The bird’s enormous size is in stark contrast to the heap of data surrounding the species, which is indeed very small. There are very few unconfirmed observations of the species, first described in 1872, and although some suspect that the bird has heard its call, examples are quite scarce. That’s why this event has become a very exciting event among the bird watching community.
From the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ghana, Dr. “This is a sensational discovery,” said Nathaniel Annorbah.
The bird has distinctive black eyes, yellow beak and enormous size. The species is currently considered to face major threats, including habitat degradation due to human activities. With a population estimated to have only a few thousand members, conservationists hope the owl’s latest appearance will motivate new efforts to save the species.
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