The dramatic rescue and our rehabilitation of an injured White-tailed Eagle will keep BBC Countryfile viewers on the edge of their seats this Sunday (16 February).
In July 2024, British Wildlife presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Hamza Yassin was out filming in Tobermory, Mull when he noticed the eagle struggling to fly.
After monitoring the bird for four days, a joint rescue by ourselves, RSPB, Forestry and Land Scotland and Sealife Mull was successful and we transported him to our National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross.
When the eagle arrived at our Centre, he received initial restorative care which involved rehydration, nutrition and pain medication. Our wildlife vet team discovered the eagle had fractures in his left wing but they were confident that this could heal naturally rather than having to undergo invasive surgery.
After two weeks of medication and initial cage rest to restrict wing movement, the fractures showed to be healing well and the eagle could eat for himself. After close monitoring over the next few weeks, the eagle could be moved to larger aviaries as his condition improved.
Whilst in the eagle aviary, Wildlife Assistants witnessed strong, full-length flights and the wildlife vet team confirmed, from radiographs, that the fractures had fully healed. The confirmation of strong, symmetrical flight and the healed fracture meant the eagle was able to be released back into the territory he was rescued from. Working alongside the RSPB, the eagle was released in Mull and Caroline, from our bird team at our Wildlife Centre, shared her thoughts on the release,
“It was a privilege being able to care for, and successfully rehabilitate such a magnificent bird. Taking it back to Mull and seeing it take to the sky once again was astounding. This is what my job is all about, and I feel the same way towards every bird I rehabilitate and release.”
Now the story of the eagle’s amazing rescue and rehabilitation will feature on BBC1’s Countryfile on Sunday 16 February at 5pm.
