Two ramblers found an injured owl in Los Almagros close to Fuente Alamo on Monday where it appeared to be in distress and unable to fly.

“When we approached to see if there was anything we could do it seemed quite fierce” said one of the walkers, “It had enormous claws which I’m sure could have inflicted quite a lot of damage so we decided that discretion should be applied and called the emergency services on 112.”

A local police patrol quickly arrived at the scene from the El Valle Recovery Centre. Together they once again located the bird which had hidden under some bushes in a rambla. The party then set about capturing the bird.

Once it had been secured the owl was taken to the centre.

Having examined the bird experts say that the bird’s wings were both badly damaged. They added that the bird was fatigued and confused as a result of not being able to get itself airborne.

In theorising on how the bird might have been injured the centre spokesman said that just a few meters from where they found the owl there was a high voltage electric line which the bird quite probably flew into.

The owl will now remain at the centre where it will continue to receive treatment.