Animals are amazing! Perhaps no animal across different places and cultures represents wisdom more than the owl. Since ancient times they have been revered for their intelligence and for their links to mysticism and the night.
This little owl, Zeus, is more unique than all others. Sadly, he is almost completely blind, but thankfully he was rescued and is now looked after by carers at the Wildlife Learning Center in California where he lives life to the absolute fullest. He definitely seems happy enough despite his disability and is described as behaving in a consistently calm and relaxed manner, showing no fear of those around him.
His eyes look as though they are filled with galaxies as a result of the cataracts and blood clots that took his sight. Carers are unsure whether his eyes were damaged as a result of a fight or as a result of perhaps crashing into an object in the night. The Western Screech Owl was found injured on a porch in Southern California and he has lived with the team since 2012, where he receives top-notch care.
Due to his condition it is impossible for him to ever be released back into the wild, for he would simply not be able to hunt and would eventually go hungry. He now lives on a trunk on the filing cabinet of Paul Hahn, the gentleman who set up the sanctuary and who cares for a wide variety of birds and other animals.
The team decided to name him Zeus son as soon as he arrived, because his eyes reminded them of the heavens over which the Greek god Zeus reigned.
The team of carers at the WLC say of Zeus that:
"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. 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."
Western Screech owls can live to around 14 years old, and while Zeus's exact age is unknown, we do know that he will live out the rest of his days happy and cared for by some absolutely fantastic people!
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