This story is a bit old, but popped up in today’s news.
From The Telegraph
Comedian took advice from expert at London Zoo before releasing female Eurasian eagle-owl into local forest
Bill Bailey has revealed how he bought a caged owl from a restaurant in China and set it free in a forest.
The comedian and Strictly winner, 59, has released a memoir titled My Animals and Other Animals, a chronology of his life hinged around all the animals he has met along the way.
Bailey told BBC Breakfast: “We were travelling through China in Guangdong province and we went to a restaurant, and I was with the family, and there was an owl in the restaurant.
“It was never really explicitly mentioned whether it was going to be eaten or whether it was for, you know, demo purposes.
“It was in a cage alongside a lot of other animals, and we felt sorry for it. So we said, we have to get this owl out of here. We offered to buy it off them, and then they were quite happy to sell it to us.
“We bought the owl, and they taped it up and put it in a box, and we carried it off in a taxi to release it somewhere.”
After phoning an owl expert at London Zoo from China, Bailey said they had found a forest, adding: “We let it go and it flew off. It was a wonderful moment.”
In the book, Bailey says the owl was a female Eurasian eagle-owl, and he paid 400 yuan for it, which is just over £40 today.
According to the Peregrine Fund, which works to conserve birds of prey worldwide, the Eurasian eagle-owl is “among the world’s largest owls”, its “pumpkin orange eyes and feathery ear tufts make them one of the most striking owls in the world”.
I was not familiar with Bill Bailey, so here is a link to some of his best material.
Black(s?) books was great. Worth checking out.
Edit: his Downton Abbey Jamaican dub is pretty good.
I feel I have heard that title before. I’ll give it a look. Thanks!
I’ll second that suggestion.
He’s always been an animal lover and has done some nature shows but I haven’t seen them and don’t know if they’re funny or serious, but he’s good in everything.
I watched the first 2 episodes on lunch and had some literal laugh out loud moments. Seems to be a very quotable show as well, which is always a bonus!
I’ve watched both seasons once a year for the past +10 years. It’s so good.
I only knew him from that show. The episode where he gets bonked on the head and plays piano threw me! Brilliant.
One of my favorites. I always think of “I’m a lonely soldier” when I see him.
Bill Birding Bailey. Next to being a comedian and musician, he is a well known birding enthusiast. Also actor in “Hot Fuzz” and frequent panel guest on QI.
I did watch a few of his music bits, and they were very funny. I’m really liking this guy!
Top stuff bill bailey is a stand up bloke five stars
Everything I hear or see of this man brings a smile. He is absolutely amazing.
You’re all making me feel I’m the only one who hasn’t heard of him! He does seem to be a good person and very funny and talented.
Guy is a bit of a smartypants dick, IMO. A self-proclaimed musical expert who never wrote anything. Did a whole bit on how The Edge sucks b/c he uses effects. Why didn’t you do it, baldy?
![Bill Bailey [British comedian] bought caged owl from restaurant in China and set it free](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/c3ef0f6d-6399-4a9c-97e9-bbf8de3ce6fa.jpeg){kind=link}