TEHRAN – A migratory Steppe eagle from Kazakhstan that had lost its strength due to parasitic and skin diseases was released into the wild after receiving complete treatment at the provincial Department of Environment (DOE) in Izeh, a city in the south-western province of Khuzestan, and regaining the ability to fly.

The eagle, named Shuber, was equipped with a logger; it was wintering in Khuzestan's wetlands. Two wildlife activists found the bird unable to fly in a mountainous village in Susan district in Izeh. They took the bird to the DOE veterinary station in the city.

After six days of medical treatment, the eagle gained enough strength to be ready for release back into the wild.

The Research and Conservation Centre for Birds of Prey in Kazakhstan, on its official website called Aquila, described the whole incidence ‘a miracle in the life of a migratory bird’ and officially recognized the efforts of the environmentalists in Izeh. The center considered the effort a model example of international solidarity in the protection of endangered species.

The research center lauded the professional handling and kind support of the bird, expressing their deepest thanks to the DOE in the city of Izeh. 

According to the website, “every dozen or so years, and every several hundred dataloggers fitted, a miracle occurs. And when one occurs, then suddenly miracles start pouring down like rain. It all began on November 26th, when one of the Steppe Eagles fitted with our logger 5 months earlier in Kazakhstan – a male named Shubar was caught alive in Iran.

Miracle number one – it was not shot down.

Miracle number two – it was not killed.

Miracle number three – it was not sold on a local market.

Miracle number four – it was urgently transported to a veterinary station of the Department of Environment in the city of Izeh.

Miracle number five – it was professionally treated there.

Miracle number six – the logger was not removed from the bird.

Miracle number seven – the logger was not regarded as a spying device.

Miracle number eight – the logger was not handed to any military unit for investigation.

Miracle number nine – the bird was released in the Miangaran Wetland after recovery.

Miracle number ten – the bird was released even with the logger still on its back!!!

Thanks to the goodwill of the people involved, we were at all times able to monitor the situation and wait for the final moment of releasing the bird again to the wild, as well as further track his movements.

The bird is fine now. It turned out he had an infection that was efficiently cured.

On days like these, overwhelmed with good things taking place, it really feels the hard and stressful work makes sense. And even start dreaming that from now on, eagles will be treated with due respect, receiving help, if needed, and do their eagle stuff. And from the technical side, that dataloggers with Aquila inscriptions will no longer be treated like enemy tools for causing harm, pain, and tears to humans.

The dream will continue, thanks to people in Iran.”

MT/MG