THE recent storms in Durban didn’t just muddle up human schedules, but also messed around with local wildlife.
The Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) made two unique bird rescues of a stork and a brown snake eagle this past week. Both birds had been severely injured in two separate incidents before being admitted and monitored by the centre’s clinic staff.
“This stork got herself swept into a sewage pipe while looking for food and became caked in dozens of leech-like pods. Baby powder was applied to help dry out the feathers and to detach the sticky pods from her wings. 24 hours later and she was standing, eating and looking much better. She will be released soon,” said Crow communications officer, Alex Kogl.
The brown snake eagle was admitted after suffering a nasty concussion. “He is recovering well and growing stronger each day. He is on a steady diet of snakes and should be ready for release soon as well.
“Massive in size, a male snake eagle like this can reach a wingspan of up to two meters. Giving the very definition to being ‘eagle-eyed’, snake eagles can detect slithering snakes from as far away as a kilometre above ground, swooping down at incredible speeds and using their razor sharp talons to scoop up unsuspecting serpents. Looking at the majesty of this bird, we can’t help but think back to the magnificent crowned eagle who was tragically shot out of the sky last year July. It’s so important to be vigilant around areas where these majestic raptors occur, as they are a precious natural inheritance for future generations,” shared Alex.
