Breeding hope for endangered owls

Great Grey Owls must feel happy in their territory before they breed

There are hopes that a pair of young endangered owls, on loan to a sanctuary in East Cleveland, will breed.

The great grey owls, which are extremely rare, have been loaned to the Kirkleatham Owl Centre, near Redcar, by Chester Zoo.

The centre has a good track record in successfully breeding owls.

Jill Robson, from the centre, said they aim to create a habitat in which the birds are happy and comfortable, so they may breed when they are mature.

Ms Robson said: "It's extremely difficult to breed owls, but we've got a very good track record, and I think that's why we've been able to get these birds.

'Laid back'

"We've bred spectacled owls, and were very lucky in that about three years ago, out of all the Zoo Federation members, there were only five bred, and two of them were ours.

"We were also the first to breed turkey vultures, so we must be doing something right.

"We will make sure the birds are happy, well-fed and laid back. We've got to keep them occupied, and let them think it is their territory and they are happy with it.

"The female has also got to be able to trust the male because she has to depend on him totally from 60 to 70 days, from laying, through to hatching and the first couple of weeks after the youngsters hatch."

The great grey owls are now eight-months old, and should be ready to breed when they are four.