Post News Network
Raghunathpur, May 9: Three white owlets nested on the Neem tree chosen for Lord Jagannath’s idol at Kharipadia were rescued by a team of forest and Nandankanan Zoological Park officials Saturday.
However, the rescue operation commenced after the tree was felled. Forest officials Nrusinghacharan Pothal and Chittaranjan Biswal rescued three owls from the branches of the tree and sent them to Nandankanan zoo. Pothal said all the nocturnal animals, believed as the mount of Goddess Laxmi, are safe and unhurt.
Meanwhile, another white owl is stated to be making rounds of the neem tree. All the eyes were set on the owls as it was decided that the owls would be rescued before the axe falls on the tree Saturday. Though the process for rescue operation began before the tree was chopped off, some Daitapati servitors reportedly opposed the move.