GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — A local family, residing on a farm near Graaff-Reinet, is currently caring for a juvenile Verreaux’s eagle that was found by members of the local police on the R63 just outside of town last week.

Verreaux’s eagles (Aquila verreauxii) is a large African bird of prey, also sometimes called a black eagle.

The young eagle, when found, was slightly dehydrated and it is suspected that it was pushed against fencing as a result of the prevailing strong winds this past week.

Luckily, the eagle didn’t suffer any serious injuries.

The eagle was brought to its current carers by the Camdeboo Veterinary Clinic in Graaff-Reinet after it was brought to them by the concerned police officers.

The current carers of the bird say they will provide short-term care for the eagle and hope that they will be able to release it back into the wild soon.

Previously, a mature Verreoux’s eagle which had a hole its crop was also taken in by the same caring team.

The eagle was operated on and successfully rehabilitated after which it was returned to nature.

The eagle was tagged and released and is often spotted by members of the team on surrounding properties.

In the past, the team also cared for a juvenile fish eagle that was found in a cement dam. He was also nurtured back to health and successfully released.

Currently, there exists a very real need for a local bird of prey rehabilitation centre in the Graaff-Reinet district which can also hopefully assist in public finding injured birds.

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