WATCH: Spotted Eagle Owl rescued from shopping stint in Salt Rock
The Spotted Eagle Owl's mate waited impatiently outside the shopping centre for the rescue to be completed.
After being trapped inside the New Salt Rock Centre inside Mount Richmore at the entrance to Checkers for about two days, a Spotted Eagle Owl was lured to freedom with a delicious mouse on Saturday night.
The owl had generated a great deal of interest from concerned shoppers and the experts were soon called in to set up a rescue operation.
The first attempt to free the owl was aborted as it was not keen to leave the rafters with the clamour of shopping below him.
Natal Falconery Club’s Mark Hulin and Specialised Rescue Unit’s Quentin Power waited for the cover of darkness for round two, and it was soon apparent that the adult owl was in a hurry to get out.
“It happened really quickly. The owl was starving, as it had not eaten for probably two days.
“We were still setting up the wire cage when it flew out.
“I carefully placed a mouse in the car park which it caught and immediately took off,” said Power.
The owl’s mate, that had been hanging around outside the centre impatiently, and its freed partner flew off into the night.
These impressive birds mate for life.
Mark Hulin captured this footage of the owl swooping on the mouse in the carpark:
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