The spotted owl is high in demand due to its use in sorcery. One such owl is priced at Rs 50,000 approximately in Surat district, sources said.

Earlier, these owls were seen in large numbers in Surat villages. But with rampant hunting by villagers, the number has considerably gone down across the district.

Merchant said: “I found the bird trapped in kite threads on a tree near my hospital in Mandvi taluka. I was shocked to find it in that condition. Nowadays, people hunt these birds for black magic practices. These birds are useful for farmers who hunt rodents in the fields. I have handed the owl to the district forest officials after giving it some primary medication.”