Japan’s cafe owls are at risk, warn animal rights groups

Animal welfare groups criticize owl cafes in Japan as the country experiences a boom in animal restaurants. Since owls are considered a symbol of good luck, these cafes are gaining popularity. But being a nocturnal animal, this disturbs their sleep cycle. The birds' feet are also kept tied. Animal welfare activists feel that this amounts to animal abuse. Owls are birds of prey and crowded cafe conditions are difficult for them. They are used to flying long distances at night to hunt and their keen hearing and vision make it hard to adjust to bright and noisy venues. However, cafe owners say that they are aware of the issues and are making efforts to keep the birds stress free.