He is the mastermind of one of Nepal's biggest conservation festivals. But it's not in honour of the solitary snow leopard, the majestic Bengal tiger or red panda - it's for the humble owl. In this episode, Kate Humble and Edward Whitley hear from Raju Acharya, who is known as "owl, sir" in Nepal. The Himalayan country is home to 23 species of owls which are simultaneously regarded as good and bad omens by the country's 125 distinct ethnic groups. Raju has recruited "owl envoys," spearheaded a 10-year government action plan and gone door to door to shift perceptions around the nocturnal species. Now districts are lining up to celebrate them.


See Raju’s short film narrated by Sir David Attenborough here: bit.ly/SafeguardNepalOwls


Edited and produced by Sarah Treanor


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