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A restaurant in Abu Dhabi that homes owls that guests can pet has come beneath scanner from animal rights activists for alleged animal cruelty.
Abu Dhabi’s Boomah Cafe, which claims to be the primary owl cafe within the Center East, homes 9 owls and permits guests to carry them for 70 Dirhams (£15).
The cafe has been accused of animal cruelty by web customers and animal rights activists regardless of the proprietor’s assurances prior to now that the owls’ wellbeing is their high precedence.
Movies of the cafe with the owls have lately gone viral on social media and triggered backlash from individuals. Many web customers argue that utilizing owls for leisure and revenue is improper and advocated as a substitute for his or her placement in wildlife sanctuaries.
In February this yr, the cafe celebrated its fourth anniversary.
Based on NDTV, content material creator Little Foodie lately shared a video of the cafe on Instagram, showcasing a number of owls with their identify tags and species data displayed close to a picket board.
A person commented: “Is that this proper? I imply birds ought to be free except these birds want rehab…” The person added: “Appears so improper to earn a living of caged animals.”
One other commented: “That is animal cruelty.” One more wrote: “Can we cease utilizing animals for leisure and cash? That is improper on each stage.”
The content material creator wrote within the caption of the video: “That is the Center East’s first owl cafe and it must be probably the most distinctive experiences in UAE! Impressed by the owl cafes in Japan, you possibly can admire a few of the most majestic owls you’ve ever seen and get an opportunity to even contact them beneath the supervision of knowledgeable.
“The owls’ room is split by a glass in case you don’t wish to work together with them and simply watch from a distance.. however should you want to stand up shut, it prices AED 70 per particular person. Undoubtedly a bucket checklist expertise when in Abu Dhabi.”
A commentator wrote: “Please don’t promote locations like this that exploit animals for cash.”
The cafe proprietor Mohamed Al Shehhi instructed Time Out Abu Dhabi in 2020, “Boomah opens every day at 2pm to permit the owls sufficient relaxation all evening and all morning, and whereas closing, they’re launched to maneuver round freely”.
He added: “A number of the owls at Boomah can by no means dwell within the wild, let’s take Venus (the Tawny Owl), for instance. She hatched with one wing being shorter than the opposite, disabling her from flying at excessive altitudes or for lengthy distances.
“Whereas being cared for by Boomah group, Venus is now a wholesome eight-year-old owl residing fortunately regardless of the incapacity.
“The thought is impressed by the Japanese owl cafes, however we enhanced the thought in a approach that might fulfill the Center Japanese society.”
The Unbiased has contacted Boomah [The owl cafe] for a remark.
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