I'm angry. And I'm sad.
Nkolika the Owl is dead. She was killed in the streets days ago, after being taken from her sanctuary in a Good Samaritan's home. She was killed because people in the neighborhood could not get over their irrational belief that she was witch. They believed that the young man who'd saved her was endangering himself just by caring for her.
Here's how it all started:
About two weeks ago in Nigeria, a young man named Azuibuike Eyes Okoro saw some people beating an owl in the street. "She was helpless and harmless " Okoro said. "She crouched there looking beautiful, watching them killing her." She was a common barn owl. Scientific name: Tyto alba. Igbo name: ikwikwie.
In Nigeria, owls are greatly disliked and ruthlessly slaughtered. Many believe they are witches or the mediums of witches who are bent on bringing evil and misfortune. Some say that when an owl hoots, it is a bad omen and someone is certain to die. Ironically, these beliefs are reinforced in churches by pastors. Nevertheless, when Okoro saw people beating the owl in the street, he was overcome with a deeper emotion. Love. "It just felt right to save her," he said.
Without considering the consequences of his actions, Okoro became a hero. He snatched the bird into his arms and took off. He took the bird to his home. Okoro risked a lot when he rescued her, including harm to himself for preserving such an "evil" creature.
I learned of his situation when he posted a photo of the bird on his Facebook page and tagged me. I watched several Nigerians warn him of witchcraft and evil. One guy even said that if Okoro put the owl in a coffin shaped box, only then would it change back to the witch it was. Still, Okoro found some support there, too (from Nigerians and the rest of the world). Facebook connected him with people who could tell him how to care for the bird. He was also able to find a wildlife facility near his home that would take the bird and give it professional care.
He fondly referred to the owl as his "Owl of Ga'hoole" in reference to the Guardians of Ga'Hoole fantasy book series. However, he asked me to come up with a more fitting Igbo name for her. I chose Nkolika. In Igbo, "nkoli ka" means "dialogue is better". Talk (civilized behavior) is better than violence. It's a female name and since he'd been referring to the owl as "she", I went with that.
On Tuesday (February 26th), Okoro planned to take the owl to a wildlife facility an hour from his home. However, before he could do so, tragedy struck. Needless to say, Okoro was heartbroken.
This incident may sound like one of my stories, but it is not. This happened right in the great megacity of Lagos, Nigeria.
Owls are magnificent and mysterious. They can turn their heads 270 degrees around. They hunt at night and have special feathers that make them able to fly in complete silence. Their eyes are big and intense for night vision. And they are often beautifully adorned and may have intimidating faces. It's no mystery why human beings of many cultures construct fantastical folklore about owls.
However, most of the time, an owl is simply an owl. Just another citizen of the earth. And that should be an ok thing to be, no matter the country.
Fly in peace, Nkolika.
Nkolika the Owl is dead. She was killed in the streets days ago, after being taken from her sanctuary in a Good Samaritan's home. She was killed because people in the neighborhood could not get over their irrational belief that she was witch. They believed that the young man who'd saved her was endangering himself just by caring for her.
Here's how it all started:
About two weeks ago in Nigeria, a young man named Azuibuike Eyes Okoro saw some people beating an owl in the street. "She was helpless and harmless " Okoro said. "She crouched there looking beautiful, watching them killing her." She was a common barn owl. Scientific name: Tyto alba. Igbo name: ikwikwie.
In Nigeria, owls are greatly disliked and ruthlessly slaughtered. Many believe they are witches or the mediums of witches who are bent on bringing evil and misfortune. Some say that when an owl hoots, it is a bad omen and someone is certain to die. Ironically, these beliefs are reinforced in churches by pastors. Nevertheless, when Okoro saw people beating the owl in the street, he was overcome with a deeper emotion. Love. "It just felt right to save her," he said.
Without considering the consequences of his actions, Okoro became a hero. He snatched the bird into his arms and took off. He took the bird to his home. Okoro risked a lot when he rescued her, including harm to himself for preserving such an "evil" creature.
I learned of his situation when he posted a photo of the bird on his Facebook page and tagged me. I watched several Nigerians warn him of witchcraft and evil. One guy even said that if Okoro put the owl in a coffin shaped box, only then would it change back to the witch it was. Still, Okoro found some support there, too (from Nigerians and the rest of the world). Facebook connected him with people who could tell him how to care for the bird. He was also able to find a wildlife facility near his home that would take the bird and give it professional care.
He fondly referred to the owl as his "Owl of Ga'hoole" in reference to the Guardians of Ga'Hoole fantasy book series. However, he asked me to come up with a more fitting Igbo name for her. I chose Nkolika. In Igbo, "nkoli ka" means "dialogue is better". Talk (civilized behavior) is better than violence. It's a female name and since he'd been referring to the owl as "she", I went with that.
On Tuesday (February 26th), Okoro planned to take the owl to a wildlife facility an hour from his home. However, before he could do so, tragedy struck. Needless to say, Okoro was heartbroken.
This incident may sound like one of my stories, but it is not. This happened right in the great megacity of Lagos, Nigeria.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Nkolika on the day Okoro saved her (February 10th). She scratched him up pretty badly (Note: It's not safe to handle an owl!), so he had to put her in the sink. He eventually gave Nkolika her own room. |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Nkolika was doing well (February 16th). By the second day, he was able to get her to eat some raw meat. Days later, he got her to eat live prey. |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| When Okoro was away, he believes his neighbors came into his home, released the owl and killed her in the street. This was how he found her hours later right outside his home (February 26). |
Owls are magnificent and mysterious. They can turn their heads 270 degrees around. They hunt at night and have special feathers that make them able to fly in complete silence. Their eyes are big and intense for night vision. And they are often beautifully adorned and may have intimidating faces. It's no mystery why human beings of many cultures construct fantastical folklore about owls.
However, most of the time, an owl is simply an owl. Just another citizen of the earth. And that should be an ok thing to be, no matter the country.
Fly in peace, Nkolika.