Lakshadweep recruits Barn Owls to fight rodent menace

Why in news?
  • With a thriving rat population playing havoc with its coconut yield, the UT of Lakshadweep hires barn owls for help.
More in news
  • Why Barn owls?
    (1) The rats in the Lakshadweep Islands practically live on treetops.
    (2) Coconut palms here grow so close together that they can easily go from one tree to another.
    (3) Nocturnal barn owls are natural rat hunters, armed with a powerful auditory mechanism.
    (4) Coconut is an important money-spinner for the islands, but the pesky rodents account for 30-40% of the yield loss.
    (5) Similar attempts were reportedly made in the 1960s as well. The birds were reintroduced in the 19th century for rodent management.
  • What is barn?
    (1) A barn is an agricultural building usually on farms and used for various purposes.
    (2) It refers to structures that house livestock, including cattle and horses, as well as equipment and fodder, and often grain.
Source
The hindu




Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 14th May 2019
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