From Terra Natura Benidorm we have given a Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) and a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) to the Dancos de lillo environmental education centre (Toledo), a space specialised in Iberian fauna where both birds will coexist with other specimens of the same species and they will participate in breeding programmes, or educational and informative programmes to raise awareness among the population about the problems of conservation of raptor species.

The Bonelli’s eagle was transferred to Terra Natura Benidorm in 2012 after suffering a collision on a power line where it lost a wing. In the case of the buzzard, he arrived at the park in 2017 after the state security forces made a seizure of an individual, who was raising him illegally. Being used to people he could not be reintroduced into nature. The park’s team of keepers have since cared for both unrecoverable birds at their facilities.

At present, Terra Natura has a group of 11 unrecoverable birds and includes species like the Harrys falcon, two griffon vultures, a tawny owl, two American kestrels and a common kestrel, a crow, a barn owl, a buzzard and a common stork. Terra Natura Benidorm has agreements with the Administration to host some of these specimens that can´t be released in the wild.

Annually, dozens of birds have accidents and they can´t be reintegrated into the wild, so the existence of recovery centres is essential to guarantee their healing and reintegration into the natural environment. For those specimens where reintegration is not possible due to the problems they suffer, it is essential the existence of a network of zoos where their survival and well-being are ensured.

Sensitive conservation status

Bonelli’s eagle is an especially sensitive bird of prey in terms of conservation, since it is protected by CITES I. The bird is a female with reproductive capacity, so despite having lost a wing, if it joins another specimen, they may have chicks, which when they grow up and become independent may be introduced into their natural environment.