The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

Rare snowy owl finishes treatment, begins final stage of rehabiliation

The University’s Wildlife Medical Clinic will be releasing a rare snowy owl, that it has been treating for the past three months, to its final stage of rehabilitation in the coming week.

The owl, who is named “Qigiq”, has been receiving intensive intensive care and treatment at the facility for a broken wing. Since its arrival, the owl has had two surgeries on the broken wing, along with multiple rehabilitation sessions.

Julia Whittington, medical director of the Wildlife Medical Clinic, said that although the facility serves to provide treatment, it does not have the ability to rebuild the stamina of the animals that are brought in. Since it needs to receive rehabilitation that would prepare it to be released back into the wild, the clinic has arranged for the snowy owl to be sent to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka.

“In terms of this snow owl, he’s healed and he’s better,” Whittington said. “Now we need to see if he has the skills to see if he’s releasable.”

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