The Pemba Scops-owl, Petit-duc De Pemba, or Autillo De Pemba (Otus pembaensis). The Pemba Scops owl is a tough, medium sized Otus owl. Unlike the tree-hugging shy African Scops Owl, its habits and calls closely resemble the smaller and much less powerful Sokoke Scops Owl, its closest congener on the mainland coast. It is endemic to Pemba and is, as most island endemics, threatened by habitat loss.
Since 2005 the Department of Environment (Zanzibar) and the Peregrine fund has closely followed the Pemba Scops Owl status. Thanks to the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Peregrine could, during 2008, test the Pemba Scops Owl for DNA and also mark and track the owl. The largest habitats have been found in the Ngezi forest and in Msitu Mku. The International Union for the conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has recently upgraded the endemic Pemba Scops Owl, from "of least concern" to “vulnerable”.
If you would like to help Peregrine conserve the Pemba Scops owl, please do this directly through their website www.peregrinefund.org.
The Manta Resort aims to continually support the conservation of all wildlife of Pemba. 2% of all The Manta Resort earnings go directly to support wildlife conservation programs on Pemba.
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