MUMBAI November 4: The rescued owls are a pampered lot at their new caretaker, Aasmant Nature Club of Dombivli.

Express Newsline had reported the rescue of the six barn owls from one Shyamsunder's residence in Kandivli on Sunday. Rupali Parakhe of Aasmant who was mainly instrumental in the rescue said, ``Other animal care institutions like SPCA and BNHS were closed on Sunday. So I could only ask my friend Sandeep Shetty to rescue the birds.''

``The real problems began after the rescue,'' said another Aasmant member Abhijeet Kelkar. He explained that for lack of an alternative place the owls were placed in a large net cage out in the open. ``The thronging crowd and the noise of the Diwali crackers had scared and made them restless,'' he pointed out adding, ``That's when we decided to relocate them here till they were strong enough to fly.''

The relocation wrapped in muslin dupatta and a duffel bag was easier said than done. The agitated chicks clutched at Rupali and Abhijeet with their sharp talons and hooked beaks leaving cuts on their arms. The beak and left wing of the younger chick was injured.

A checkup at the vet Dr V Chariar revealed that the youngest owl may need a plaster-cast. The doctor said, ``The four healthy ones should be strong enough to fly within 10-12 days, the fifth one who has minor bruises will also heal off and fly within within a fortnight.'' Chariar was however concerned about the youngest chick "which will need some time to heal its broken wing before it flies off.'' Their attempts at flight have one problem. Still to learn how to land safely, they keep falling down. The rodent-eaters are being fed with mashed bits of pomfret fish and glucose water.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.