A pallid Scops Owl, a species rarely seen in India, was rescued from a home in Andheri East late Monday night. The bird, found with a dislocated wing, was safely retrieved by wildlife enthusiasts. This marks only the ninth recorded sighting of the species in Mumbai’s suburbs. Wildlife rescuer Karan Solanki received a call from a resident whose window had accidentally allowed the small owl into their home. He, along with Navin Solanki, founder of Aasha: The Hope For Animals Welfare Trust, rushed to the spot and safely rescued the bird.

Speaking to mid-day, Karan Solanki said, “After rescuing the bird, we were surprised to find it was a Pallid Scops Owl—a species primarily found in Pakistan and the Middle East, and occasionally winters in parts of Gujarat. Spotting it in Mumbai is extremely rare.” The species has only nine records from the Mumbai suburbs on eBird, with previous sightings at Bhandup Pumping Station in 2016 and 2021.