Bonelli’s eagle chick rescued in Cyprus after mother dies from power line strike

On Wednesday, the Game and Fauna Service in Cyprus announced the rescue of a young Bonelli’s eagle. The mother, monitored via satellite as part of the European LIFE Bonelli EastMed programme, was found dead after colliding with a power line. Wildlife officers observed the father, also satellite-tagged, to determine if he could sustain the chick alone. Monitoring revealed the chick was not receiving sufficient food and was in immediate danger of starvation. Using specialized equipment, officials reached the nest located in an inaccessible pine tree to secure the bird. The chick was transferred to a specialist veterinarian for urgent care and monitoring. Authorities plan to release the eagle back into the wild once it is capable of independent survival. The Service highlighted that power line strikes remain a leading threat to birds of prey and emphasized the necessity of insulating power networks.