Jabba The Hoot: Natasha Welch and Hanu, her owl who’s a fan of Star Wars (Picture: Stian Alexander)

A pet owl is driving its owner mad by ‘forcing’ her to watch films she hates – such as Star Wars.

Haru, an Asian brown wood owl, has also turned into a big fan of television programmes including Top Gear and live tennis.

Natasha Welch says her seven-month-old animal is taking over her life and has developed human characteristics since she hand-reared him as a chick.

‘He loves watching TV, especially programmes I don’t like,’ said the 22-year-old.


‘So I have to sit in front of tennis, Top Gear and Star Wars with him. Over Christmas he watched Madagascar all the way through.’



However, Ms Welch has found a good use for Haru – she has incorporated him in her Owl About Art project, in which children get involved in ‘owl-themed art with a live owl’.

She said: ‘When he was a chick it was like having a baby.

‘He would wake me up crying and call for food in the middle of the night.

‘I would hand-feed him ten chicks and a couple of mice a day, and have to be with him when he drank water, otherwise he could drown.’

Ms Welch says Haru sees her as a parent at their home in Maidstone, Kent.

‘Unlike the saying, owls aren’t actually very clever at all. He thinks I’m his mum,’ she said.