Eagle Owl Soft Toy - Anima Plush

The eagle owl soft toy by Anima sits upright, gazing straight ahead with large round eyes — the prominent ear tufts and brown-patterned plush plumage make it immediately recognisable as Europe's largest owl. French manufacturer Anima has been recreating animals in lifelike detail since 1946 and paid close attention to the eagle owl's striking facial markings and powerful beak. Whether on a bedside table, a bookshelf or as a companion during animal story time — the owl plush toy suits many settings. In schools, the eagle owl can serve as a vivid example when studying birds of prey and nocturnal hunters. The soft toy meets the European EN71 safety standard.

The eagle owl (Bubo bubo) is Europe's largest owl species, with a wingspan of up to 170 centimetres and a weight of 1.5 to four kilogrammes. It inhabits rocky landscapes, forest edges and quarries, hunting at dusk and during the night. Its prey range is broad: from mice and rats to hares, other birds of prey and hedgehogs — almost anything it can overpower. The eagle owl flies virtually silently — special comb-like structures on its feathers suppress flight noise. Its deep, far-carrying "buhu" calls gave it both its German name and its scientific name.

Did you know that the eagle owl was nearly extinct in Germany by the mid-20th century? Persecution, poisoning and the use of pesticides such as DDT caused populations to collapse. A major reintroduction programme beginning in the 1960s turned things around: captive-bred eagle owls were released into suitable habitats. Today, around 3,000 eagle owl pairs breed in Germany once again.