Introduction to the Hairy-legged Fishing Owl: The Mountain Hermit Hairy-legged Fishing Owl once spread throughout Hokkaido. This largest owl in the world is revered by the Ainu people as the patron saint of the village. Unfortunately, due to the reduction of forest area, this kind of fishing owl now only exists in central and eastern Hokkaido. It is estimated that the surviving number of wild hairy-legged fishing owls is only 120-130 individuals (40-50 pairs), according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) It is listed as an "endangered species" in the Red Data Book of Endangered Animals.