A short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus) found grounded and unable to fly has been rescued by Portugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR) in Vila Nova de São Bento, in the Alentejo municipality of Serpa, and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre.
In a statement, the GNR’s Beja Territorial Command said the bird was found on Wednesday, 26 August, by an E-Redes maintenance employee. The eagle was lying on the ground near a medium-voltage power line pole, seemingly dazed. The employee checked on the animal, then called the relevant authorities to inform them of his discovery. The bird was subsequently recovered by the Environmental Protection Unit (NPA) of the Moura Territorial Detachment.
The bird was found weak, disorientated, and unable to fly before being collected and assessed by NPA officers, the GNR said.
It was then taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre run by Portugal’s Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), where it will receive treatment before being returned to its natural habitat.
The short-toed snake eagle is a migratory bird of prey that breeds in the Alentejo, Algarve, Beira Interior, and Trás-os-Montes. The species is classified as Near Threatened in Portugal and is typically found in areas of woodland, or open countryside.
As its name suggests, the eagle specialises in hunting reptiles, particularly snakes and lizards. It is a summer visitor, generally arriving in Portugal in March and leaving around September, although some birds may remain in the south during winter. With a wingspan of up to 1.8 metres, it is recognisable by its broad wings, pale underparts, and distinctive dark head.
Source: LUSA
Photo credit: LUSA
