With assist from Rewilding Europe’s European Wildlife Comeback Fund, 4 stunning Bonelli’s eagles have simply been launched on Sardinia. Re-establishing a thriving inhabitants of those iconic birds on the Italian island will profit nature and assist flip the tide for this threatened species in Europe.
GREFA
In direction of a thriving eagle inhabitants
4 Bonelli’s eagles have simply been launched in northwest Sardinia, as a part of a long-term programme to reintroduce these majestic but endangered birds on the Italian island. With the assist of a 49,800-euro grant from Rewilding Europe’s European Wildlife Comeback Fund, three juvenile and one grownup chook had been returned to the wild in mid-January, in Tepilora Pure Park. Components such because the theft of eggs and chicks, direct persecution, and collisions with energy traces meant the species had grow to be regionally extinct on the island by the Nineteen Nineties, with reintroductions starting in 2018. The grant additionally supported the discharge of 4 birds in 2024.
The Bonelli’s eagles are being launched on Sardinia below the framework of the multi-partner, EU-funded “LIFE Abilas” initiative. The Spanish NGO GREFA, which acquired the comeback fund grant, was liable for transferring the birds to the island, with releases overseen by ISPRA (the Italian Institute for Environmental Safety and Analysis). Three of the eagles had been bred in captivity within the French Vendée area, whereas the fourth was offered by the Andalusian regional authorities in Spain.
“The reintroduction of Bonelli’s eagles in Sardinia, supported by EU funding, reveals how worldwide companions can work collectively to return a as soon as extinct species to a panorama the place it must be current,” say GREFA president Ernesto Álvarez. “With the general goal of building a viable breeding inhabitants of the birds on the island, we’re aiming to launch an extra six to eight eagles yearly by until 2030, with the opportunity of as much as 10 in some years.”
GREFA
An iconic keystone predator
The Bonelli’s eagle, a comparatively giant chook of prey typically present in hilly or mountainous habitats, is emblematic of many Mediterranean areas. With an in depth Eurasian vary, it may be discovered from Portugal within the west to Indonesia within the west. It nonetheless breeds on the Italian island of Sicily, the place there are at the moment estimated to be round 40 mature people.
With a weight-reduction plan composed primarily of rabbits, hares, and medium-sized birds akin to pigeons, the Bonelli’s eagle is taken into account a keystone species, serving to to take care of wholesome, balanced ecosystems.
“Rewilding focuses on restoring pure processes, not simply on the land, but additionally within the skies,” explains Sophie Monsarrat, Rewilding Europe’s Rewilding Supervisor. “As one of many island’s few giant raptors, the Bonelli’s eagles on Sardinia will play a significant function within the island’s meals internet and circle of life.”
Staffan Widstrand
Complete assist measures
Components akin to habitat degradation, human-related mortality from energy traces, poaching, and nest plundering imply the European Bonelli’s eagle inhabitants – of which 80% is discovered on the Iberian Peninsula – is at the moment declining. Like many diurnal raptors, the birds attain sexual maturity comparatively late and lay few eggs, which makes rewilding efforts to recuperate populations tougher.
On Sardinia, wide-ranging measures to assist the comeback of Bonelli’s eagles embrace making energy traces safer, securing small reservoirs and water tanks to stop drowning, boosting wild rabbit populations, and selling using non-toxic ammunition.
James Shooter
Journey to the wild
The 4 eagles which have simply flown free on Sardinia adopted a multi-stage launch course of. After spending a while in GREFA’s wildlife centre in Majadahonda close to Madrid for remedy and analysis, they had been transferred to the island by employees from the Spanish NGO in November final 12 months. They then spent a couple of weeks acclimatising to their new residence in a purpose-built aviary.
The grant from the European Wildlife Comeback Fund was put in the direction of bills for captive breeding, veterinary care, the transport of the eagles, and post-release monitoring by way of GPS monitoring and digicam trapping.
GREFA
Scaling up European rewilding
The European Wildlife Comeback Fund works to scale up keystone species reintroduction and inhabitants reinforcement throughout Europe, with an agile setup designed to assist wildlife comeback in a handy and versatile means. Thriving wildlife populations play a essential function in making certain the well being and performance of nature – whereas many European wildlife species are making a comeback of their very own accord, others require a serving to hand to be able to grow to be re-established.
“The grant from the European Wildlife Comeback Fund, which was simply accessed, has been important in serving to us to supply the Bonelli’s eagles, transport them, and launch them in Sardinia,” says Ernesto Álvarez. “This exemplifies how the fund can present invaluable help to organisations working to return important wildlife species to European landscapes and seascapes.”
A separate grant of almost 70,000 euros from the fund additionally supported the discharge of seven Bonelli’s eagles on Sardinia in 2023, by a partnership between GREFA, ISPRA, and Forestas (the Sardinian Forestry Company).
GREFA
Rewilding Europe invitations different initiatives working to reintroduce keystone species in European landscapes to think about making use of for a grant. These concerned with contributing to wildlife restoration in Europe can assist wildlife comeback with a web based donation. In case you’d like to speculate greater than 50,000 euros within the European Wildlife Comeback Fund, we’d like to get in contact with you personally.
