Accelerating habitat clearance and capture for food render Otus capnodes highly threatened.
Otus capnodes was rediscovered in fragments of upland forest in the centre of Anjouan in the Comoro Islands in June 1992 after an absence of records dating back to 1886.
At least several tens of pairs, probably 100--200, survive.
Otus capnodes is listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN Red List.