 |
|
|
Harpy Eagle to Take Flight Again |
|
By Diego Cevallos*
Panama
is a pioneer in rescuing the impressive raptor, the harpy eagle.
More than 30 harpy chicks have hatched in captivity there since
2001.
MEXICO CITY - Thanks to Panama, the remarkable
harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) may soon fly free of its endangered
status. But for that to happen, the harmful actions of humans must
stop -- and it would still take 20 to 25 years.
Panama is the only Latin American country that has focused its attention
on protecting this eagle species, which for hundreds of years flew
over an area stretching from Mexico to Argentina, but began to disappear
as a result of destruction of its habitat and because it was targeted
by hunters.
After four years of work, the Panama Peregrine Fund recently released
five harpy eagles, all hatched in captivity. Two have already established
territory in protected areas of Panama, and the other three are
in nature parks in Belize.
This is seen as a major success. In 2001, 17 chicks hatched in captivity,
2002 and 2003 produced 14 more -- figures that surpass what had
been achieved by scientists in the United States, another country
attempting to rescue this bird of prey.
Seven harpies have hatched in captivity in the United States, but
over a period of 10 years.
However, despite the successes, a great deal is yet to be done to
ensure the future of the harpy, which is endangered, like hundreds
of bird species in Latin America and the Caribbean.
According to the United Nations Environment Program, there are more
than 400 kinds of birds in the region that are classified as ''vulnerable'',
''endangered'', and ''gravely endangered''. The harpy eagle is one
of them. This bird of prey can stand more than a meter tall, with
a wingspan of more than two meters, and weigh around eight kilograms.
In the region there are more than 300 mammals that are threatened
to different degrees, in addition to more than 150 types of fish,
more than 100 reptiles and some 30 amphibians. The biggest numbers
of endangered species are found in the countries with greatest biodiversity:
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.
What has been achieved with the harpy eagle is important, but it
will be 20 to 25 years before it can be known whether the rescue
project has achieved its goal, Magali Linares, director of the Peregrine
Fund, which operates with the support of U.S. scientists and donors,
told Tierramérica.
By 2006, it will be known whether the first five birds released
have found mates and reproduced. The scientists then will determine
how long the harpy's reproductive life lasts, calculate its mortality
rate, continue the release program and finally distribute the birds
throughout Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America), the ideal habitat
for this species.
''Our project is unprecedented in Latin America. Venezuela and Ecuador
have shown interest in harpy eagle reproduction, but they have not
yet carried out this type of program,'' said Linares.
The goal of the Peregrine Fund is for the species' full recovery
in Panama, then in Belize, and ultimately in the greater part of
the Mesoamerican region.
This large bird of prey, which despite its size generally tries
to pass unnoticed, finds the humid tropical forest, up to altitudes
of 800 meters above sea level, to be its ideal habitat.
The harpy's diet includes monkeys, sloths, parrots and certain reptiles.
The bird is threatened with extinction, but some can still be found
in Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela.
In Panama, where the government declared the harpy eagle its national
bird in 2002, there are fewer than 50 harpy nests. But that number
will surely grow with the release of birds hatched in captivity
once they are three years old.
''We are going to continue working for the harpy eagle,'' but the
future of this species will also depend on rescue and conservation
efforts in other countries and on a reduction of environmental pressures
in the harpy habitat, said Linares.
* Diego Cevallos is an IPS correspondent.
|
