We currently have two great grey owls in our collection. A male, named Edwin, who arrived in September 2011 and his daughter, Zooni.  

FACT FILE

• Great grey owls are one of the largest species of owl in the world and the largest to live in the Northern hemisphere
• They are found throughout Northern Europe, Northern Asia and a significant proportion of North America
• The most obvious feature of a great grey owl is its large facial disk, a satellite dish of feathers which directs all sounds towards their ears helping the owl to locate its prey by sound. The great grey owl has the largest facial disk of any bird of prey
• Their scientific name comes from the Greek ‘strizo’, meaning to screech, and the Latin ‘nebulosa’, meaning dark or clouded, referring to their grey colouration
• The great grey owl communicates with a number of vocalisations. Its primary call is a very soft, low-pitched hoot "whooo-ooo-ooo-ooo", which can be heard over half a mile away in the right conditions
• Most of their body has a thick layer of feathers coating it, to insulate from the harsh conditions of their habitat
• The wings of an owl are finely serrated so that they can fly silently. This allows them to approach prey silently

HOW WE'RE HELPING

Like all the animals in our care, our great grey owls are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.

As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the park and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.

Find out more about RZSS conservation