Spot Bellied Eagle Owl

Context: A wildlife team has recently spotted the ‘Spot Bellied Eagle Owl’ (Bubo Nipalensis) for the first time in the Seshachalam forest, and for the third time in Andhra Pradesh.

About Spot Bellied Eagle Owl:

• It is overall a stark, greyish-brown bird, with dark, coarse brown coloration over the back and upper wings.
• It is a large bird of prey and is also known as the forest eagle-owl.
• It is a very powerful and bold predatory owl.
• The bird makes a strange scream similar to humans and it is hence called the ‘Ghost of the Forest’ in India and ‘Devil Bird’.
• They are mostly found in dense, evergreen forests or moist deciduous forests.
• They are found throughout the Indian subcontinent and peninsular Southeast Asia.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern
• CITES status: Appendix II

Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve:

• Seshachalam Hills are the hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats, southern Andhra Pradesh state, and south-eastern India.
• They are bounded by the Rayalaseema uplands in the west and northwest and the Nandyal Valley (formed by the Kunderu River) in the northeast.
• Minerals contained in these hills include sandstone and shale interbedded with limestone.
• The hills contain seven peaks namely, Anjanadri, Garudadri, Narayanadri, Neeladri, Seshadri, Venkatadri, and Vrishabhadri.
• It was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 2010.
• Tirupati, a major Hindu pilgrimage town and the Sri Venkateshwara National Park are located in these ranges.
• It is home to a number of endemic species including the famous Red Sanders and Slender Loris.
• Tribes of Yanadis are the native population of the reserve.

Source: The Hindu

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) Consider the following animals

1. Hedgehog
2. Marmot
3. Pangolin

To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts? (2022)

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 1 and 3

Q.2) Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”? (2019)

1. Corbett
2. Ranthambore
3. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
4. Sunderbans