Rare owl seen for the first time in 125 years

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The Bornean subspecies of Rajah scops owl (Otus brookii brookii), documented in the wild for the first time since 1892, may be its own unique species and deserving of a conservation designation.

Published April 28 in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center ecologist Andy Boyce reported the rediscovery and photographed this elusive subspecies in the mountainous forests of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia.

"It was a pretty rapid progression of emotions when I first saw the owl—absolute shock and excitement that we'd found this mythical bird, then pure anxiety that I had to document it as fast as I could," Boyce said. 

f the Sumatran subspecies. O. b. brookii's vocalizations, distribution, breeding biology and population size are totally unknown. Despite the lack of information on the species and subspecies, and the apparent rarity of the Bornean taxa, the Rajah scops owl was designated a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Properly resolving the ecology, distribution and taxonomic standing of O. b. brookii could have important conservation implications toward both subspecies of owls given each would be an island-endemic species. 

https://phys.org/news/2021-05-bornean-rajah-scops-owl-rediscovered.html

[Enzo 37,977]

so

was it considered extinct before this sighting?

[Argentum 1,705]

The most owl-like owl I've ever seen

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2 minutes ago, Enzo said:

so

was it considered extinct before this sighting?

I don't know if it was considered extinct oficially, but it was assumed to be lost. She really said:

 

[dit 46,738]

I hope it finds a mate and births more of their species.

[TheSlash 14,539]

20 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

Otus brookii brooki

Good for her, tho . I hope this means the species has still good chances to not get extinct .

[Chromatica Island 8,517]

I love owls, so this is great news to me!