GRAPHIC CONTENT: CROW forced to euthanise majestic crowned eagle shot in Queensburgh

A CROWNED eagle rescued by the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sunday, 26 July  from the roof of a house in Hillside Avenue in Malvern with three pellet gunshot wounds, has not survived.

Sue-Ann Shutte, senior clinic nurse of the CROW Clinic said the bird was found by local volunteer, Zoe Dougall, after a Queensburgh resident reported the bird was shot.

Shutte said the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife are investigating the shooting because it is an offence to harm wildlife.

“Unfortunately since the bird was shot with a pellet gun, it won’t be easy to trace the weapon used,” said Shutte on Friday.

In a post on Facebook on Thursday evening, the Centre reported that the bird had been put down.

“A beautiful crowned eagle was rescued over the weekend after sustaining three pellet gunshot wounds, one of which, went through his spine leaving him paralysed.”

“He was humanely euthanised,” said the Centre’s Facebook Page in post accompanying a video showing the injuries the bird had sustained.

https://www.facebook.com/crow.kzn/videos/1370465366495800/

“Sadly this is the dreaded end to a story we hear often,” said the Centre.

“The crowned eagles that naturally occur within the green belts and leafy areas of Durban, often share their territory with humans who have pets. Though their diet consists mostly of hyraxes, antelope, vervet monkeys and other birds, there have been incidences reported of eagles preying on people’s pets, especially around the northern parts of Durban.”

CROW indicated in its commentary on the video that it is likely the shot was fired by a disgruntled pet owner who saw the bird flying over his property.

“Shooting an eagle is a highly illegal act. Crowned eagles are a “ToPS” (Threatened or Protected Species) and can not be relocated,” explained the centre.

The topic of eagles posing a harm to pets is a topic CROW say is often raised in phone calls to the Centre.

“Our stance remains: we urge pet owners to learn to co-habitat with these birds as best they can by adapting to their presence and not trying to get rid of them.”

ALSO READ:  Death of eagle puts the focus on plight of species

Shutte said pet owners can can follow these tips:

• Do not allow your pets out on their own when the eagle is present.
• Spend time in your yard with your animals early morning and late afternoon and on the weekends. So that you can watch and see if the eagle is around and protect your pets.
• Build a catio or another safe enclosures around your home so your pet can go outside safely during the day.  This can be achieved by closing in a veranda.  This will also help you know at all times where your pet is, if your cat is in a catio it will not go missing, get into fights, get knocked over by a motor vehicle or pick up any disease from feral cats that will cause your cat to get ill.

She added that  eagles tend to hunt mostly during the day and most pets that are taken are seen as easy prey by young eagles who are still learning to hunt.

“Crowned eagles cannot be relocated, they are a protected species, one would need to obtain a permit from by EKZN Wildlife to have the bird/ pair birds removed,” explained Shutte.

Shutte said permits are only given under exceptional circumstances to trap and relocate birds, such as if the birds have been killing stock.  She said when birds that are trapped for relocation are not able to be relocated they have to be put to death.

“If no relocation is possible then this majestic bird will need to be euthanised,” she said.

ALSO READ:  Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – The African Crowned Eagle

Shutte explained that crowned eagles are essential in their eco-systems because they control the numbers of many animals in the region.

“Some of  animals and birds found near a nesting site of a crowned eagle pair- Rock hyraxs ( Dassies), Hadedas, Blue duikers, Grey Duikers, Vervet monkeys and small mammals like mongooses and the occasional bushbuck. – all these have been found in a Study done by Mr Mac Pherson in 2015 who studied a breeding pair of birds,” said Shutte.

Shutte said people with pets need to be responsible for their safety and leave the management of wildlife to authorities.

“It is the responsibility of the pet owners to protect and look after their pets, EKZN Wildlife is responsible for the protection of wildlife,” she said.

Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.