In the historical stories of my country, Iran, owls were symbols of wisdom and the intellectual minds among animals. However, over time, with cultural and religious changes and the spread of superstitions, the owl suddenly became known as a sinister bird.
People in some regions of northern Iran believe that owls are associated with spirits and jinns. If an owl perches on a house and its sound is heard, they consider it a sign of the impending death of one of the household members. In reality, many owls go unseen by people; often, the owls that people do see are those interested in living in human-made structures.
Owls have always stirred conflicting emotions in humans and attracted attention; love and fear, hatred and admiration. Some viewed owls as intelligent, while others considered them foolish, and this contradiction still exists. Alongside people who work towards the eradication of owls, there are also individuals striving to preserve their species.
Mandana is an Iranian woman who lives in northern Iran. She and her friends, using their own funds, treat and rehabilitate owls and birds of prey that get caught by humans and are subjected to abuse, then release them back into the wild. Some of these birds, however, have injuries that make it impossible for them to return to nature, and they care for these birds for the rest of their lives. She says that birds are more beautiful in the sky, and each time she releases one back into nature, it feels as though she has been freed again herself.
This story is not unique to my city and country; such beliefs exist in other countries as well. In ancient Egypt, India, China, Japan and South America, owls were known as messengers of death. Many unaware individuals and children are frightened by the large, staring eyes and feathers of owls, perceiving them as sinister. One reason for this is the silent flight of these birds at night.
Fatemeh a 33-year-old woman has taken on the responsibility of caring for an injured owl that lost one of its wings due to a bullet shot by a human She named the owl Pasho Initially some of her friends and family members were skeptical and even considered the owl to be an omen of bad luck but over time Pasho has become a beloved and special member of her family Fatemeh is a member of Ms Mandana s team Jun 06 2024 Gorgan Iran
One of the corneas of this found owl chick is asymmetrical and the doctor is currently examining it The found owl chicks are first given to the environmental authorities and then handed over to Ms Mandana for further treatment and release into the wild May 18 2024 Gorgan Iran
Jiran 30 years old and her husband Isaac 33 years old are members of the owl care team They have equipped part of their eco-lodge for this purpose Mandana is holding the owl in her arms to examine its broken wing and take it to the vet for further treatment Oct 12 2024 Gorgan Iran
The barn owl has suffered severe burns on its feet After removing the burned tissue the doctor is currently bandaging the area To make the procedure easier the bird has been anesthetized Once the treatment is complete the owl will be released back into the wild All the treatment and care costs for these animals are covered by Ms Mandana May 26 2024 Gorgan Iran
Mandana 43 years old is gently petting a forest owl named Pashmak that recently underwent corneal surgery on one of its eyes to regain partial vision Pashmak now flies freely around Mandana s home According to Mandana in the early days her mother-in-law believed the owl was an omen of bad luck and feared it might attack Mandana However through Mandana s efforts the perception of this bird is gradually changing among many people May 20 2024 Gorgan Iran
Panbe was a baby forest owl that was handed over to Mandana after being found In the early days the bird suffered from rickets soft bones but with Mandana s efforts and a proper diet it was successfully treated and is gradually getting ready for release Typically baby owls are stolen from their nests to be sold in markets where they often face improper feeding illness or death Oct 15 2024 Gorgan Iran
Panbe is currently being trained to hunt in the wild Mandana typically feeds it with meat from mice or quails Jul 02 2024 Gorgan Iran
Six months ago when these owls were still chicks their home was destroyed by humans Fortunately the Environmental Department discovered them and entrusted them to Mandana for care and training Since owls primarily feed on mice Mandana ties quail meat to dolls with thread to teach them basic hunting skills and how to tear apart their prey This is their final dinner at Mandana s home as they will be released into the wild tomorrow Jul 02 2024 Gorgan Iran
Mandana hugs each owl one by one and bids them farewell wishing them good health She says The bird s place is in the sky Nov 27 2024 Gorgan Iran
Hassan 50 years old is the guardian of Fatemeh s farm For the release he climbs up this walnut tree each time and places the owls in a nest that Mandana has built for them He then feeds them for two days in the nest to help them recover from shock and fear so they can start hunting in their environment Typically the owls leave the nest within two days Nov 27 2024 Gorgan Iran