The Bar-Hai family was on its way to a beach in northern Israel when the children noticed an owl stuck in an Israel Railways security fence. Turning their beach trip into a wildlife rescue operation, they spared no effort in rescuing the bird.
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After failing to free the owl, whose head was stuck in the fence, on their own, the family alerted the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which sent two wildlife inspectors from the nearby Habonim Nature Reserve to help.
The inspectors carefully unstuck the owl and transferred it to the Wildlife Hospital at the Ramat Gan Safari.
"Our family was on its way to Habonim Beach when we made a wrong turn and ended up in an unknown area," the mother, Hadas, said. "That's when the kids suddenly noticed the owl. I tried to help her myself, but she was too scared. But the children didn't give up."
According to Hadas, her children, Matan Or and Achinoam, insisted the family postpone the beach trip and help rescue the bird, instead.
"We drove to the Habonim Nature Reserve and explained the situation to the wildlife inspectors who immediately went back with us to find the owl. The inspectors were very moved, as were we. We are grateful that we had the opportunity to save the bird."
Director of the Habonim Nature Reserve Matan Carmel commended the family.
"Thanks to the family's vigilance and determination, we were able to save the owl. The main food source of such owls are rodents, and they are, therefore, a natural pest control for agricultural areas.
"A family of owls hunts about 2,000-6,000 rodents each year, depending on the size of prey, and prevent the need to use pesticides that are harmful for humans and the environment," Carmel explained.
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