Little Owl "Suddenly Falls Face Down and Lies Still," Scaring Tourists; Park Officials Laugh: "It Just Ran Out of Battery"

Recently, a visitor at a zoo witnessed an unusual scene in the bird exhibit: a young owl chick suddenly fell face down on the ground and remained motionless. This alarming sight frightened many visitors, leading them to believe that the chick had died unexpectedly. However, the truth behind this incident was quite surprising.

A photo of the owl chick lying still quickly circulated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), capturing the attention of over a million users. Many online commenters expressed their shock and relief, with remarks such as:

• "I thought it was really dead!"
• "I always believed owls slept standing up; I didn't know they could lie down!"
• "Interesting fact learned!"
• "Similarly, humans have heavy heads too, so sleeping face down isn't a problem."
• "At first glance, I thought it was a crime scene."

Zoo staff clarified that this behavior is common among young owls. Due to their relatively heavy heads, these chicks often sleep lying down rather than standing. This explanation not only alleviated the visitors' concerns but also provided an opportunity for learning about owl behavior.

The incident highlights how easily misunderstandings can arise in nature exhibits and the importance of educating the public about animal behaviors to prevent unnecessary alarm.

フクロウの幼鳥は頭が重いので、うつ伏せで寝ることが多い… pic.twitter.com/DZ3X7v4Qzz

— 癒しの動物 💜世界の話題💚 (@iyasimof) 2022年10月8日