Browse Old Articles

Safari of the week

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL DETAILS OR TO BOOK.

Portugal’s only nesting male Imperial eagle shot dead

09/03/2009 08:48:59 Eagle shooting endangers species
March 2009. Portuguese environmental groups - including SOS Lynx, A Nossa Terra and Almargem - have denounced the deliberate shooting of the country's only nesting male Iberian Imperial Eagle. The shooting occurred sometime between 21 and 23 February in the Vale do Guadiana Natural Park, close to the country's south-eastern border with Spain.

Only 400 birds left alive
The Iberian Imperial Eagle is one of the 3 rarest birds of prey in the world, with only 400 individuals surviving. The species was once widespread across the Iberian Peninsula, but is now confined to small parts of central and southern Spain, and areas close to the Spanish border in Portugal. The shooting occurred at the eagle's nest within a protected area by an unidentified individual or individuals.

The deliberate shooting of an Iberian Imperial Eagle is illegal under Portuguese and International law, and represents a disaster for the species' recovery in Portugal, as well as the recovery of other important predators - including the planned reintroduction of Iberian Lynx.

Miguel Rodrigues, spokesperson for SOS Lynx, stated: "Irrational attitudes constitute one of the main barriers to predator conservation in Spain and Portugal. If predator persecution cannot be adequately controlled, the future recovery of many important predator species will be in doubt".

www.soslynx.org

www.almargem.org

Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment

To post a comment you must be logged in.
CLICK HERE TO LOG IN AND POST A COMMENT

New user? Register here

Name:
Email:

Click join and we will email you with your password. You can then sign on and join the discussions right away.

Created by Wild Dog Design & Bright Interactive

Visit sponsor