Pappa sadly diagnosed with the Trich parasite

The community’s beloved Spotted Eagle Owl, Pappa, has sadly been diagnosed with the Trichomonas gallinae parasite, the disease wiping out raptors countrywide.

While in the Bible it might have been a dove that brought Noah the olive branch that indicated the existence of land after 40 days and 40 nights of rain and floods, Pappa wasn’t a recipient of such peace, as he is believed to have contracted Trich (as it’s known in short) from a dove which he hunted recently. Trich manifests itself and develops inside a seed, which is naturally common feed for pigeons and doves right around the world.

To be more specific, Trich preferably makes itself at home inside wet or damp seeds which are common during the summer as it is the rainy season. The heat that comes with the summer months helps incubate the parasite inside the seed, which is eventually eaten by a dove, pigeon or another bird, which means that the bird becomes a new carrier of the Trich infection.

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Once the bird is infected with the parasite, the disease spreads extremely easily. Pappa’s infection is the perfect example thereof, as according to the Owl Rescue Centre’s Danelle Murray, doves and pigeons are favourites on the Spotted Eagle Owl’s diet. “A Spotted Eagle Owl’s diet in Johannesburg is primarily made up of pigeons and doves,” she said.

Allan Eccles, owner of Falcon Africa Safaris and resident in the complex that Pappa calls home, confirmed on 18 March that Pappa had been infected with the disease after tons of worrying on their part. While Trich is always a cause for concern, Allan remains positive about Pappa’s condition.

“He is being treated at the Bryanston Avian, Exotic and Small Animal Clinic, and so far he is doing well,” a post on Allan’s Facebook page read.