Sea Eagles re-introduced to Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park took delivery of 15 White Tailed Sea Eagles after an absence of around 100 years.
Ireland lost its last native sea eagle in 1889. The reintroduction program will distribute up to 200 eagle chicks over the next five years, with some 15 arriving this year.
In the 1980s a similar project was carried out in Scotland, and a total of 160 sea eagle chickens were sent. These have seemingly adjusted well to their new environment.
The last birds of the original sea eagle population in Scotland were killed in 1918.
In Norway the sea eagle population has increased since it was protected in 1968, and has now reached more than 2,500 couples.
The sea eagle is Northern Europe’s largest bird, with a wing span of up to 2.4 metres.
Despite some local objections to the program citing threats to livestock and new conservation rules restricting development the first sea eagle chicks will be released in July after a setting in period in Killarney National Park.
Posted: June 18th, 2007 under General.
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