A collared scops owl. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Six young owls were released into their natural habitat near Chanyuan Temple in Zhejiang's Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve at 5:30 pm on Aug 12.

The group included four Asian barred owlets and two collared scops owls, all of which had been found earlier this year in an unexpected location – an exhaust pipe in someone's kitchen in Xiyou village, Hangzhou.

Discovered in May by a local villager, the owls were just hatchlings, unable to fend for themselves. They were rescued and brought to Hangzhou Zoo for care, where they underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation program. After months of feeding, flight training, and survival exercises, the owls were deemed fit to return to the wild.

The release was timed for the evening, an ideal period for these nocturnal birds to reorient themselves in their natural environment. This event is part of a growing trend in Hangzhou, where wildlife rescues are becoming increasingly common. Local authorities remind the public to maintain a safe distance from wild animals and contact professionals if rescue assistance is needed.

An owl is released. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]