A New Lease on Life
A rare eastern imperial eagle, known as Feliks, has been rescued from the clutches of animal traffickers and released back into the wild in Serbia. The eagle's journey to freedom was nothing short of remarkable, involving a military transport plane, a wildlife center in Beirut, and a daring rescue mission.
The protected species is critically endangered, but thanks to conservation efforts since 2017, the population in Serbia has grown from one pair to 29 pairs this year.
Feliks' ordeal began when he was caught by poachers in Syria after leaving his nest last year. The poachers demanded a ransom, which was categorically refused by conservationists. This refusal sparked a lengthy negotiation process, which ultimately secured the bird's release.
A Perilous Journey
Feliks was carried by refugees in a potato sack over the Nahr al-Kabir river on the northern border between Syria and Lebanon. He was eventually taken to a wildlife center in Beirut, where he recuperated for over half a year. In June this year, Serbian peacekeepers escorted the bird to Palic Zoo, where he spent over a month recovering from his ordeal.
Freedom at Last
Feliks was finally released into the wild on Thursday, with conservationists wishing him a strong and healthy life. The young eagle will be closely monitored in the coming weeks, and experts hope he will thrive in his new environment.
We wish Feliks to get stronger as soon as possible, survive all the adversities, conquer his territory and leave descendants, said Milan Ružić, executive director of the Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia.