The discovery rewrites the continent’s natural history: a predatory bird, thought to be extinct for decades, is once again flying through the skies. Never seen before. Miracle in the animal world: an extinct bird in South America that hunts mammals mercilessly has returned. A milestone in the conservation of South American fauna impresses researchers. In an impressive discovery, they managed to photograph a young specimen of harpy eagle in the jungle of Misiones, Argentina.
It is a terrible predator. One of the most imposing and powerful birds of prey in South America, it feeds mainly on mammals. This sighting, which had not occurred for more than 20 years, highlights the importance of protecting the region’s biodiversity. Its presence is an indication of the environmental health of the region, and this sighting reinforces the urgency of conserving these habitats to ensure its survival and that of many other species that share its territory.
The return of the harpy eagle: how they discovered it
The capture of the image of the young harpy eagle by Manuel Encabo and Sergio Moya was not the result of chance, but of tireless research that began more than 20 years ago. During that time, the two scientists spent countless hours in the field searching for this rare species, travelling through the reserves of Misiones and other Argentine provinces, such as Formosa, Salta and Jujuy. Although they found other birds of prey, the harpy eagle eluded them until that historic morning at the end of July.
During their search, the researchers faced the difficulty of working in a vast wild area, with more than 240,000 hectares of dense forest, which made it extremely difficult to locate the eagle. In addition, harpy eagles are very elusive birds, often flying low among the treetops and difficult to spot.
The location of the young eagle was made possible thanks to the accumulated experience of Encabo and Moya, who knew the area well and used techniques such as long-range cameras and monitoring the sounds of the species to attract the birds.
The sighting of this young specimen, about two years old, offers insight into the health of the harpy eagle population in the region. The work of Encabo, Moya, and other researchers, such as Facundo Barbar and the Caburé Foundation team, is essential to continue the study and conservation of this endangered species.
The harpy eagle: an endangered species
The harpy eagle, one of the most powerful and largest birds in the world, faces serious threats that endanger its survival. Although it has historically inhabited the jungles of South America, its population has declined dramatically due to the loss of its natural habitat and poaching.
This bird, which can reach an impressive size and weigh up to 9 kilograms, is a top predator in its ecosystem, feeding mainly on mammals such as monkeys and sloths.
- Habitat loss: Deforestation in the tropical jungles of South America, where it lives, has considerably reduced the areas suitable for nesting and hunting.
- Poaching: despite being a protected species in some countries, illegal hunting remains a significant threat, as some pursue it because they consider it a danger to livestock or because of a belief in its medicinal properties.
- Slow reproduction: harpy eagles have a very low reproductive rate, with only one chick every two or three years, which hinders population recovery.
