An
owl
with eyes that look like a starry night was found on a porch, the caring
homeowners knew he needed help and sent him to a vet. After the visit,
the blind owl found a new permanent home at the
Wildlife Learning Center
in Sylmar, California. This owl’s name is “Zeus”, named after the Greek
god of sky and thunder because of his extraordinary, gold-flecked,
stunning and big eyes filled with the beauty of the cosmos.
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| Zeus, the Blind Owl With Stars in His Eyes |
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then Zeus has the entire
Universe within his soul because his eyes contain galaxies, they reflect
the very universe we live in – the wondrous starry heavens that shine
on every clear night. He is a Western Screech-owl and was rendered blind
at a young age. He has only around 10% of his vision, so he cannot be
released back into the wild and so stays at the Wildlife Learning Center
in California where he receives a lot of TLC.
The team who have cared for Zeus since he was rehabilitated in 2012, said: “
In
our combined 40-plus-years of working with wildlife, we’ve never seen
anything quite like it. But he’s doing great! He still hangs out in the
office with us every day and is otherwise completely healthy.”
His starry eyes are the result of clots of protein and blood pigment,
but he also has cataracts. His condition is probably the result of an
attack by a predator, but it’s possible he also had a flying accident.
So, because of his eye condition, he can’t be released back into the
wild, or hunt for himself, so the team at WLC is happy to help out, he
gets fed daily and loves the protein-filled menu.
They said: “
We have seen people just about taken to tears when
meeting this most special little owl. It’s remarkable that Zeus’
disability brings so much awareness, sensitivity, and concern for not
just screech owls, but all types of wildlife, as well as the environment
we share. Zeus is truly an ambassador … he’s a joy. It’s not just a
responsibility for us to care for him, but a privilege.”
Zeus has a toy friend and loves Halloween and he is very friendly and
loves to be near people, so if you’re ever in California, be sure to
visit him and his friends in the Wildlife Learning Center because he is
now a full-time resident there and brings happiness to every visitor.
