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Harpy
Eagle Chick |
Just a few months
after the Harpy Eagle breeding pairs were moved from the World
Center for Birds of Prey in Boise to our Neotropical Raptor Center
in Panama, we have achieved and exceeded with great enthusiasm the
results we expected. At the end of January, two Harpy Eagle chicks,
produced by Venezuelan female “GN,” and captive-bred male “Zih,”
hatched without any problems. These chicks, a male and a female,
are growing very well and are presently in a chamber right next to,
and in full view of, an adult Harpy Eagle so that the youngsters can
relate themselves naturally to their species.
Shortly after
these chicks hatched, a second pair laid two more eggs that hatched
at the beginning of April. That same pair “recycled” (laid a second
clutch of eggs) after we removed the first two eggs for artificial
incubation. The pair was still incubating these eggs at the time of
this writing. A third pair of Harpy Eagles is expected to breed in
the near future.
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Harpy
Eagle chick being fed. |
Having obtained
far more success than anticipated, the entire team in Panama is
extremely busy making sure that the well-being of these birds is
ensured. Plans are already being laid for the future release of
these birds back into the wild. In coordination with Government
agencies like ANAM, ACP, and the Ecological Police, a release site,
many miles away from roads and communities, is being arranged.
Training of hack site attendants will also commence soon.
In an effort to
engage the general public in our conservation efforts and to make
people aware of the importance of the Harpy Eagle, we are sponsoring
a contest, with the support of the Ministry of Education, for
children in schools of Panama City to name the newly hatched
eaglets. The response so far has been overwhelming!
