Two harpy eagles are pulled together by fate and human intervention to start on a mission to save their species, and this story of conservation and optimism takes place in the beautiful greenery of Colombia's La Reserva Biopark.
This is the tale of a planned courtship that took years to prepare with the intention of protecting the harpy eagle, one of the biggest and most formidable raptors in the world that is currently in danger of going extinct.
A Perilous Courtship
RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images
Two harpy eagles, a male and a female, who were both saved from the southern state of Amazonia in 2018, are the main characters of this love story about conservation.
The female, with her noticeable gray crest, bears the wounds from her previous existence-pellets stuck in her body from a gunshot wound that can not be removed without endangering her life.
The male, who is usually smaller, has a broken left wing as a lifelong reminder of the difficulties he has encountered.
A metal wall kept them apart for two years, long enough for a wary acquaintance to grow into a kind relationship.
Their caretakers saw gentle interactions-signs of affection in the avian world-like beak rubbing and reciprocal feeding.
The two were finally able to share the same space when the barrier was taken down, which was a big step toward their possible mating.
The neotropical region is home to the magnificent harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), which is primarily found in tropical lowland rainforests.
These amazing birds choose the forest's upper canopy layer because it offers them more chances to hunt and soar.
Typically, their habitat stretches from Mexico to Central America and down to Argentina in South America.
Although they are known to hunt in broad areas of land, harpy eagles are known to flourish in intact woods.
Typically, they live in the middle to upper reaches of rainforest canopies, where they may locate their favorite food sources, which include sloths and monkeys.
As they descend to capture their prey, the thick forest canopy provides them with cover and a sense of surprise.
Although they have been observed as high as 2,000 meters (6,600 feet), these eagles are often found at elevations lower than 900 meters (3,000 feet).
They are almost extinct in most of Central America as a result of habitat devastation brought on mostly by deforestation. They have disappeared from many areas of their previous range.
Because the harpy eagle's habitat is so important to its existence, conservation efforts are concentrated on preserving these regions to prevent further declines in the species.
The harpy eagle and the many other species that coexist in this biodiverse ecosystem depend on the preservation of tropical rainforests.
Conservation Against the Odds
The harpy eagle, the national bird of Panama and a symbol of Colombia's air force, used to soar over the skies from northern Argentina to Mexico.
Because of poaching and deforestation, their numbers have drastically decreased in the modern era.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the species as vulnerable.
There are only an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals of the species left, largely in the Amazon. The species is fast diminishing.
Within a massive dome, biologists at La Reserva Biopark have meticulously reproduced a tropical jungle, offering a haven for these monogamous birds.
It is hoped that by mating and creating an eaglet, the couple will help ensure the continued existence of their species.
Harpy eagles are sluggish breeders, therefore there is a chance that the female may grow territorial and hurt her suitor, so there are hazards associated with this activity.
The researchers are encouraged by the couple's composed attitude in spite of the difficulties.
Successful mating will be the next milestone, which will be seen by security cameras.
The La Reserva Biopark's conservation initiatives demonstrate Colombia's dedication to protecting its abundant biodiversity, despite the nation's ongoing armed conflict, which makes doing research in the country's deep forests more difficult.
Not only is this story of conservation and resilience about two harpy eagles, but it also represents the larger fight to preserve biodiversity on Earth.
The significance of each person's life for the survival of their species and the wellbeing of our ecosystems is emphasized by this tale.
