TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The most huge owl species in the world, which mostly inhabit the forests of Russia, faces extinction due to increasing illegal logging.
"Fish preying owl Blakiston has become indicator of the health of forests, rivers, and population of its prey, salmons," said Jonathan Slaght, a biology expert in Wildlife Conservation Society to LiveScience on Friday, August 16.
The owls that can reach weight of 4.6 kilograms need big trees, which are the pillars of Russian forests' well being. The decrease in the owl's population means that Russia's big trees are also decreasing due to illegal logging.
Scientists found out that both owl and salmon's population rely heavily on old trees to breed and eat. The trees provide nesting holes that are big enough for birds. When the trees died, they will fall into nearby rivers. For salmons, the trees are also important for its different stage of lifecycle.
However, in the last few decades, illegal logging and other human activities have become a major threat for their habitation. Conservation and management for primary forest are needed to maintain the population of owls, salmons, trout, Siberian tigers, Asian bears, and wild boars, which also inhabit the forest.
LIVE SCIENCE | ANINGTIAS JATMIKA
