Lost Barn Owl Rescued by Soldiers 70 Miles Offshore Released Back Into Wild
Dubbed 'Little Reg', the owl was cared for by a yacht racing crew before being handed over to wildlife experts and ultimately released.
A barn owl that was rescued by soldiers participating in a yacht race 70 miles offshore has been released back into the wild. The bird, named 'Little Reg', had fallen into the sea multiple times before it was found and brought aboard a racing boat.
Soldiers created a makeshift bed for the owl and cared for it for 24 hours before meeting a lifeboat crew off the Norfolk coast. The owl was then transported ashore to be looked after by wildlife experts.
'Little Reg' was named in honor of a resilient crew member in Sergeant Mark Petheridge's regiment, signifying the owl's own tenacity. "We thought we’d lost her, but she kept fighting her way back up and to the boat," Sergeant Petheridge told The Telegraph. The Royal Ocean Racing Club, which organized the race, noted the owl's determination.
Footage captured the moment the crew carefully placed the owl in a box with blankets for its transit back to shore, accompanied by volunteers from the Barn Owl Trust. The transfer was reportedly coordinated to avoid significantly delaying the soldiers' racing efforts.
After being placed in the care of RSPCA Scarborough, 'Little Reg' has now been released back into its natural habitat, approximately six weeks after its rescue.
