Before

From South African Wildlife Rehab Centre

You may remember the prehistoric looking little Barn Owl who arrived from Cullinan at the beginning of September...

Well, Calli has been busy proving that Barn Owl babies are quite possibly nature's most spectacular "before and after" project!

The tiny pink pterodactyl has been gradually disappearing beneath a very respectable covering of feathers, and she is now looking considerably less Jurassic Park and considerably more "Awww, look at that face!"

Her eyes and ears are open, her head is no longer in a permanent disagreement with gravity, and that once rather alarming little creature is rapidly turning into a proper young Barn Owl.

Calli is still in the very capable care of Leanne Hezlett, who has been nurturing her through these important early stages. As soon as she is ready, she'll head through to the Owl Rescue Centre to join other young Barn Owls for company, socialisation and, eventually, the rather important business of learning how to be a successful wild owl.

There's still a way to go, but the transformation is already remarkable.

From tiny pink pterodactyl...

to fluffy little owl...

to magnificent wild Barn Owl.

Thankfully the evidence of her earlier "I was not designed for this planet" phase is fading!

After