Young golden eagle rescued in Cyprus after mother dies from power line strike

The Cyprus Game and Wildlife Service conducted a complex operation to rescue a young golden eagle left without a mother after she died from colliding with a power line.

According to the department, the adult bird was being monitored by specialists using a satellite transmitter under the European LIFE Bonelli EastMed program. After the signal indicated a lack of movement, officers found the eagle dead. The cause of death was a collision with a power line — one of the main threats to large birds of prey in Cyprus.

Following this, specialists began tracking the male, who is also equipped with a satellite transmitter, to determine whether he could provide food for the chick on his own. However, it soon became clear that the young eagle was beginning to suffer from a lack of nutrition and was at risk of dying.

A special operation was organized to save the bird. The nest was located high in a pine tree in a hard-to-reach area, but service personnel using special equipment were able to safely reach it and evacuate the chick.

The young golden eagle was taken to veterinary specialists for examination and observation. After recovery, it is planned to return the bird to its natural habitat.

The Game and Wildlife Service emphasized that this case once again demonstrates the importance of scientific monitoring of rare species using satellite technology, as well as the need to modernize and insulate power lines to prevent bird deaths.

In Cyprus, golden eagles are a protected species, and their population is considered particularly vulnerable due to human activity and the reduction of their natural habitat.