A Eurasian eagle owl. Image: Pixabay (free for commercial use, no attribution required)
A MAN accused of buying an owl is due to appear in court next month.
Mark James Butcher, of Evergreen Close in Three Legged Cross, is charged with purchasing a specimen of species listed in annexe a to council regulation (EC) No 338.
Prosecutors allege the 52-year-old bought a Eurasian eagle owl sometime before December 7 2018.
Butcher has not yet entered a plea to the charge.
He is due to appear at Poole Magistrates' Court on September 18.
The bird is one of the largest species of owl, and it can have a wingspan of up to 6ft 2ins. It can be found in the wild across Europe and Asia.
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