Anti-poisoning campaign for Imperial eagles in Hungary
Zoological Institute of the Szent István University
National Park Authorities
The eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a globally threatened large raptor species, distributed along the Eurasian forest-steppe habitats. In spite of its wide range, the breeding areas are scattered, and the world population is less than 10,000 breeding pairs. The largest long-term surveyed European population of the species inhabits the Hungarian Plain. This population has increased significantly during the last two decades due to intensive conservation activities. The population reached 89 nesting pairs in 2008, which represents 60% of the European Union's total population.
In 2006 intentional non-selective poisoning became a widespread illegal method to control “pest” predator species in Hungary parallel with several changes in the hunting regulation caused by the EUs accession of the country. The most threatened species are the large eagles, such as the imperial eagle, which usually feed on carrion, especially in wintertime. During the last four years 35 imperial eagles were found poisoned, and if this trend of increasing poisoning continues, it would seriously threaten the survival of this vulnerable species in Europe.
Project aims and objectives
The aim of the project is to decrease the frequency of poisoning cases into a significantly lower level, which already do not threaten the population of imperial eagles in Hungary. Our short term aim is to decrease the number of poisoned imperial eagles below five in 2010.
- Raise public and stakeholder awareness, so the possible perpetrators are informed about the conservation and human health consequences of poisoning;
- Track eagles individually with telemetry, ringing and genetic methods, so we can locate the most important temporary settlement areas and conflict zones, and we can identify the origin of birds recovered;
- Monitor breeding and temporary settlement areas, locate and eliminate baits in case of poisoning, so the numbers of further victims are decreased and investigations are initiated against perpetrators.
