Nala
Great-horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Born: estimated around 2016 (exact date is unknown) Arrival Date: September 12, 2023, from Smoky Mountain Raptor Center
Nala is a regal and confident owl. She lives up to her namesake, which means “queen” in Swahili. Nala entered into our care as an adult due to an injured left wing with a partial amputation. As a sit-and-wait hunter, the great-horned owl is comfortable with being still for long periods of time. This species is also very large, so many individuals tend to be fearless and self-assured.
Nala is in our program rotation, which means she is a possible candidate for our educational wildlife programs. We believe in the animal’s consent, so we will only bring out an ambassador who feels up to the challenge for any given program.