Threats to the Harpy Eagle and Conservation Prospects

The Harpy Eagle is the largest bird of prey found in the Americas, where it ranges from Mexico through Brazil and Argentina. However, despite its extensive range, Harpy Eagle populations are dwindling and it has become extinct in portions of its range, predominantly in Central America.

The main threats to Harpy Eagle populations are deforestation and hunting, though capture for captivity is also a burgeoning issue. The Harpy Eagle is forest dwelling, keeping to the forest canopy for flight rather than using the open skies. Thus, habitat fragmentation has become particularly problematic because the birds are unlikely to cross from one fragment to another to feed or breed. The eagle nests in tall, emergent trees, which, unfortunately, tend to be commercially valuable. Selective logging of valuable trees therefore inhibits Harpy Eagle breeding, leading to population decline. The birds’ slow reproductive rate and sparse distribution exacerbate these effects.

            Harpy Eagle hunting has two primary impetuses: trophy gathering and culling of a perceived threat to livestock. Obviously, the bird’s immense size and ornate plumage make it desirable as a trophy. The Harpy Eagle generally preys upon medium-sized animals, from parrots to small deer. Farmers have come to believe that it will also target their livestock, which has led them to hunt the eagle to the brink of extinction. This perception, though, is largely unfounded because Harpy Eagles prefer to seize their prey from atop forest branches, not open grazing land.

            The Peregrine Fund, a charity dedicated to “saving birds of prey from extinction,” has pioneered a three-tier conservation project to protect the Harpy Eagle. In an attempt to restore its populations, they have employed captive breeding and reintroduction and local education in communities in Central America. The reintroduction programs have been successful in Panama and Belize and the local education programs have raised awareness among over 2,000 people across Central America.

Sources:

http://www.arkive.org/harpy-eagle/harpia-harpyja/image-G51881.html

http://www.peregrinefund.org/projects/harpy-eagle