Experts concerned over dwindling number of owls in Rajasthan

Experts have raised concern over the dwindling number of owls in Rajasthan due to poaching and smuggling and demanded its conservation to prevent extinction of the bird from the desert state.
There is no counting of the bird with the forest department.
"There is no official data available on the counting of owls in the state," G V Reddy, Additional Chief Conservator of Forest, told PTI.
An official who looks after the counting of birds, Kamlesh Meena, said that the department has not conducted the counting of owls and individual experts who had done studies may have details.
Experts fear that the number of owls has dwindled due to smuggling and poaching and demanded its conservation to prevent the bird from being extinct from the desert state.

"Existence of the bird is in threat but the government is not serious for the existence of owls which is an important bird," Babu Lal Jaju, an expert and activist, said.

"Due to the negligence of the government, the population of owls is dwindling which is a serious concern. The bird and its body parts are used in black magic therefore owls are poached, and smuggled. The bird is highly in demand in the international market," he said.
Jaju said that over the last few years, the number of owls has decreased and the reasons mainly could be poaching and gradual destruction of its natural habitat.

"Earlier, the bird was easily visible but over the last few years it is disappearing. Besides black magic, the bird is used for research. Poachers catch the bird and sell them and the bird is then smuggled to Nepal, Bangladesh, Europe and Middle East but the government has failed to contain this," he said.
Another expert said that the body parts of the bird are mainly used in black magic practices and Tantriks also poach them.
Pandit Parbhrahm Indoria said that due to mythological reasons, owls have religious significance and considered as the Goddess Laxmi's 'vahan'.