Nature lovers mourn the senseless killing of mother eagle

THE killing of a crowned eagle has caused an outcry among Upper Highway residents.

Nature lovers described the mother eagle as a beloved resident who lived in peace and harmony in the south end of Springside Nature Reserve. She succumbed to a gunshot wound last month.

George Victor, Hillcrest Conservancy chairman, said every family living around Springside has seen and/or heard the eagles calling to each other.

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“Year after year, we have watched the youngsters grow from white balls of fluff into magnificent juveniles, first resplendently white, then developing their brown colours as they age as they head off to start their own lives and families elsewhere.

“The model parents have been unfailingly supportive and nurturing. Last year, they brought a new eaglet into our community who is now almost ready to leave home. In recent weeks, we have noticed both parents encouraging this juvenile to leave home so they could lay a new egg and begin a new cycle.”

For almost as long as the eagles have lived in the area, Victor said they have been part of an international eagle research programme under the leadership of Shane McPherson.

“The family has been studied, filmed and recorded and has offered valuable insights into ornithological study. Early this year, Shane and his team placed a tracker on the adult female, providing real-time and fascinating insight into flight patterns and other behaviour,” said Victor.

A death in the family

McPherson said that the mother eagle was referred to as VIE as that was her tag number.

“She was an adult breeding female in Springside Nature Reserve and had a high resolution GPS tracking on her, and we were able to see her on a day-to-day basis.”

He said they realised something was amiss when she stopped moving. “I reached out for assistance.

“The tracker showed unusual and intense activity in an area not close to the nest. For five days, teams searched the area for her. On Saturday, August 12, she was found, still alive, hidden under dense vegetation in a garden in Shortlands Road.

“The Raptor Rescue staff cared for her for a few days as they explored the extent of the injury and tried to understand the cause. An x-ray revealed metal shards embedded in her, and the nature of the large hole almost certainly indicated that the eagle was shot by most likely a .22 rifle.

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“Despite all efforts and an initial improvement, the infection caused necrosis in the muscle and bone at the femur break. On August 17, this mother eagle breathed her last breath,” said McPherson.

He stated that it is dangerous and illegal to fire a weapon – any weapon – in a built-up area.

“It is illegal and completely unacceptable to kill African Crowned Eagles, both because they are protected, but also because of their rarity and their role in the ecosystem of which they are a part. The penalty for such an act is imprisonment for up to ten years and/or a fine,” said McPherson, adding that he wishes that the perpetrator can be found and brought to book.

“We have been tracking the mother eagle for only eight months, and if it were not for the tracker, she would have just disappeared,” said a concerned McPherson.

Victor added that this senseless and aggressive murder of the mother eagle is deplored and mourned by the whole community.

“Hillcrest Conservancy appeals to all residents to assist by watching out for our precious wildlife and reporting anyone who threatens any species. As we enjoy the privilege of living next to a reserve, so we share the responsibility of being the guests of nature, rather than the destroyers!”

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