Kuno National Park Records First Sighting of Endangered Forest Owlet

Just days before the arrival of eight Botswana cheetahs, major wildlife surprise emerged from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The park has recorded its first ever sighting of the endangered Forest Owlet. This rare bird which is listed as “Endangered” by the IUCN. It was never documented in Kuno earlier. The discovery significantly expands the known range of the Forest Owlet and signals positive ecological changes in the region under Project Cheetah.

Forest Owlet Found in Kuno National Park

• First official sighting: The Forest Owlet was spotted in the Parond Beat area of Kuno National Park by local tourism operator Labh Yadav during a routine field visit.
• Scientific confirmation: Wildlife expert Vivek Patel from the Wildlife Research and Conservation Society, Pune confirmed the identification on the spot.
• IUCN Status: The Forest Owlet is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with a global adult population estimated between 250 and 999 individuals.
• Ecological impact: Officials believe the sighting reflects improving habitat conditions due to conservation efforts linked with Botswana cheetahs and Project Cheetah.
• Future surveys: The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has announced further surveys to assess the Forest Owlet’s distribution in and around Kuno National Park.

Why Forest Owlet in Kuno National Park Is Significant

• The Forest Owlet, also known as Blewitt’s Owl is one of the world’s rarest raptors.
• It was first discovered in 1872 by Irish naturalist F.R. Blewitt in eastern Madhya Pradesh.
• After 1884, it was believed to be extinct.
• It was rediscovered after 113 years in 1997 in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district which is creating global excitement in ornithology.
• Earlier in Madhya Pradesh, the Forest Owlet was found only in districts such as Khandwa, Burhanpur and Betul, which border Maharashtra.
• The new sighting in Kuno National Park marks a major expansion in its known geographical range.

Forest Owlet and Botswana Cheetahs: Link with Project Cheetah

• The Forest Owlet sighting comes just before the arrival of eight Botswana cheetahs under Project Cheetah India’s ambitious wildlife reintroduction program.
• According to senior forest officials, habitat restoration and grassland management for cheetahs may have indirectly improved forest ecosystems.
• This has likely created better living conditions for species like the Forest Owlet.
• Unlike most owls that are nocturnal, the Forest Owlet is diurnal, meaning it is active during the day, especially between 6 am and 10 am.
• It is often seen perched on tall trees even under strong sunlight — a rare trait among owls.

About Forest Owlet

• The Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti) is endemic to central India, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world.
• It prefers dry deciduous forests with teak trees.
• The species faces threats from deforestation, habitat fragmentation and agricultural expansion.

Currently, its presence is recorded in parts of,

• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra (Melghat, Toranmal)
• Gujarat (Dangs, Purna Wildlife Sanctuary)

With Kuno National Park now added to this list, conservationists see new hope for the survival of this endangered species.

Question

Q. The Forest Owlet is currently listed under which category of the IUCN Red List?

A) Vulnerable
B) Critically Endangered
C) Endangered
D) Near Threatened