Context: Recently, he Lakshadweep Administration has started the ‘Pilot project on Biological Control of Rodents (Rats) by Using Barn Owls’ in the Kavaratti Island.
Need of this initiative

• Barn Owls will be employed to decimate the population of the rats.
• The initiative is taken due to large extent damage by rats to the island’s coconut yield and economy.
• The islands have no other natural predators of rodents.
• Using chemical agents to control rats is impossible since Lakshadweep practices organic agriculture.

About Barn owl

• Barn owl or common owl is the most widely distributed species of owl.
• It is found almost everywhere in the world except polar and desert regions.
• Barn owls specialise in hunting animals on the ground.
• Nearly all of their food consists of small mammals which they locate by sound (have acute hearing ability).
• IUCN status: Least Concern.

Location of Kavaratti island

• The Kavaratti is the capital of the Union Territory Lakshadweep in India.
• The island lies 360 Km of the coast of the State of Kerala.
• Karavatti has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as smart city under Smart Cities Mission.
• The island has the maximum length of 5.8 km and width is 1.6 km.
• Kavaratti has a tropical monsoon climate with tourism as the primary industry.
• The most commonly spoken languages are Malayalam, Mahl and English.