Schoolchildren will soon get to meet this Burrowing Owl.

Little Dobby, hatched from his egg on August 8 and is being hand reared by owner Martin Southcombe.

Mr Southcombe, who runs Celebrity Reptiles, an animal encounter company that takes exotic animals into schools, is looking forward to showing schoolchildren in Croydon Dobby’s hunting methods.

Burrowing owls spend much of their life at ground level and reach a maximum height of 38 centimetres.

Mr Southcombe said: “These speedy little runners are such beauties that we had to add Dobby to our collection.”