Forest owl lost for 113 years, makes a comeback in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park

Indian forests are like those wild hearts that are home to innumerable species. However, over the years, many species have disappeared due to changing climate and encroachment of forests.

But when these species make a comeback it is no less than a treasure. One such incident happened in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh where an owl has been spotted 113 years after it was last seen.

Owl missing for 113 years spotted in MP

The Forest Owlet, endemic to central India, was first found in 1872 but vanished after 1884, presumed extinct for 113 years. It stunned ornithologists with a 1997 rediscovery in Maharashtra's Nandurbar district.

Local tourism operator Labh Yadav first spotted the owl in Kuno National Park's Parond Beat, alerting forest officials due to its rarity. Vivek Patel from Pune's Wildlife Research and Conservation Society confirmed it on-site, marking Kuno's inaugural record, according to a Hindustan Times report.

Madhya Pradesh CM, Dr. Mohan Yadav also posted about this significant progress, calling it "a significant event for biodiversity conservation in India," tying it to cheetah project progress.

Kuno, famed for cheetahs in Sheopur district, hosts diverse wildlife, and this boosts its ecosystem reputation.

Until now, it lingered in scattered spots, including Madhya Pradesh's Khaknar and Piplod, Maharashtra's Toranmal and Melghat, and Gujarat's Dang and Purna sanctuaries. In MP, prior sightings stuck to eastern Khandwa, Burhanpur, and Betul districts , according to a Nav Bharat times report.

More about Forest Owls

Unlike night-hunting kin, the Forest Owlet hunts mornings from 6-10 a.m., perching boldly in harsh sun on tall branches.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists it as endangered, with 250-999 adults worldwide. Habitat loss threatens its fragmented range.

Hope for return of lost species

This sighting signals that cheetah conservation is reviving broader ecosystems, bringing back endangered species. As Kuno preps for more cheetahs, the owlet's return shows the project’s success.