Hannibal the Owl

Ok, I’ll need to explain this so people don’t just mistake this as an anthro FanArt of Hannibal Lecter… although I am pushing it with the parody movie poster...and the rant I made below is kind of hypocritical now... *shrug*
In 2007 and 2008 in the UK there was a programme called “Spring Watch” (its still going on today, along with Autumn Watch) that was basically live coverage of British Wildlife during that time. The only memorable thing I remember was the story of Hannibal the Barn Owl…
Recently I was wondering what happened to the fellow, and these articles and a few video clips, were all I can find:

(BTW, Don’t you just love the way a natural -and desperate- act is demonised. Stupid humans personifying animals expecting them to behave to our standards… I don‘t mind if its for fiction or fantasy, but in real life its damn right annoying…stop it! I don‘t care if your ignorant world view on the “Cute little innocent pretty” barn owl has been destroyed. It’s nature… it’s cruel…they do what they do to survive…live with it…) rant over… … … …

Daily Mail article about Autumnwatch
24/10/2008

“…And there will be plenty of scope for Bill's mischief in the new series, which features a silent killer that haunts suburban gardens. When darkness falls, he starts hunting out his next victim - and preparing to swoop. For Hannibal the Cannibal, survival means everything - and he'll stop at nothing to ensure it. Even if this means killing and eating his own siblings.

The nation watched aghast in an earlier programme when Hannibal the barn owl turned on the smaller chicks in his nest. The drama was filmed for Springwatch, but, as Bill explained, it was a desperate measure. Storms had left the owl parents unable to hunt in the rain. As hunger crept in, young Hannibal - the biggest and strongest chick - ate his rivals in the nest. It has ensured his survival because now, as BBC's live Autumwatch returns, Hannibal is back - and he's as nasty as ever before…”

4th June 2008 From This Website
“Murder ,incest, single parenting, pre-watershed sex, death-defying stunts, cannibalism and fluffy bits. No we’re not talking Big Brothers imminent return (this has far fewer egos), but BBC2’s Springwatch. The reality TV show four million plus viewers can’t do without. It has it all. Life, love, death and 24 hour online webcam’s with not very much actually happening. Live! Was that a badger? Will Hannibal the owl eat his siblings again and is that really a Wildcat or just a very large mog?”



Hannibal the Owl Video Clips:


*Hannibal VS Mo: 1 2
*“Happy” Family
*Randy (and Maybe Incestuous) Hannibal


This painting was rather fun to do and quick, only an hour and a half. ArtRage 2 gave me most of the texture I needed while I coloured it in Photoshop.