An owl cafe located in Abi Dhabi has started gaining popularity, thanks to food vloggers. It is claimed to be the first-ever owl cafe in the Middle East. The Boomah Cafe is home to nine owls of different species. Customers are allowed to play with those birds by paying 70 Dirhams (about Rs 1,500). The cafe has hired some professional trainers who take care of the owls.
The owner of the cafe, Mohamed Al Shehhi, shared details of the unique experience during a chat with Time Out. According to him, the well-being of the owls has been the “top priority” for the cafe. Videos of the place have already gone viral. However, many users have criticised the concept, calling it “animal cruelty”.
Mohamed Al Shehhi revealed that the cafe opens at 2 PM, meaning the owls get ample time to rest. When the eatery is closed, the trainers release the birds to move around freely in “an air-conditioned room”. As revealed by the cafe owner, some of those owls are partially disabled and not able to live in the woods.
“Let’s take Venus (the Tawny Owl), for example. She hatched with one wing being shorter than the other, disabling her from flying at high altitudes or for long distances. While being cared for by the Boomah team, Venus is now a healthy eight-year-old owl living happily despite its disability,” Al Shehhi told Time Out.
He further revealed that the idea was inspired by Japanese owl cafes. “But we enhanced the idea in a way that would satisfy the Middle Eastern society,” Al Shehhi added. The owls have been kept in a separate room having an AC. People can watch them from a distance while sitting in the dining area. They can also hold the birds and interact with them under the supervision of the trainers.
After a video of Boomah Cafe was shared by content creator Little Foodie on Instagram, many users raised concerns about the owls. A person commented, “Owls are nocturnal. Forcing them to stay awake during the day to entertain customers is cruelty.”
Another user slammed the cafe owner, saying, “UAE has no respect for animal rights. Poor things are prisoners for your entertainment.” This doesn’t look right at all. Poor birds,” admitted a viewer. The video has garnered more than 19 lakh views on Instagram.
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