After months of rehabilitation, a golden eagle named Aquila has been released back into the wild in Tunisia. The rescue and release, led by conservationists, highlight the ongoing battle to protect Tunisia’s endangered wildlife from poaching, habitat destruction, and climate change.
Golden eagles have recently migrated to Tunisia and currently there are less than fifty pairs in the country. While they are legally protected, illegal hunting and captivity put them at constant risk.
The story of Aquila is one of the many success stories in Tunisia’s conservation efforts, protecting both the eagle and wildlife.
Aquila’s journey from captivity to freedom
Aquila was found in Gabes, a semi-desert landscape in southern Tunisia, back in July of 2024. He had been kept as a pet in an illegal household, and had his wings clipped to prevent him from escaping.
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Unfortunately for him, by the time conservationists from the Tunisian Wildlife Association (ATVS) and ResQ Program found him, he was already in a weak, dehydrated state and had suffered serious injuries.
With the help of the ornithologist Ridha Ouni, Aquila was transferred to a rehabilitation center based in Sidi Thabet. He was put on a recovery program that included healing his talon wounds, helping him regain strength, and enabling his feathers to grow so he could fly.
After he was well-rested and his body healed, conservationists sent him on a new journey, beginning from Mont Sidi Zid. With migration season coming, Aquila was eager to head back into his natural habitat.
Conservation efforts and challenges in Tunisia
Tunisian golden eagles, like many local species, are victims of illegal wildlife trafficking, deforestation, and climate change. These amazing birds of prey are often hunted or captured for private collections, even though they are protected by Tunisian law.
ATVS has implemented the ResQ program to assist. It is operated by a group of forty conservationists, students, and professionals committed to the rescue and recovery of injured wildlife.
The program has rescued over two hundred animals to date, including fennec foxes, falcons, and harriet eagles, all of which have been successfully rehabilitated and released into the wild.
ATVS’s director, Jamila Bouayed, underlined the importance of these efforts.
“Returning a wild animal back to nature, that’s exceptional. It’s a victory, but it’s also a long way to go.”
Tunisia wildlife advocates are doing their best to raise awareness and strengthen conservation efforts so that more species, including the Tunisian golden eagle, do not become extinct. Aquila being released in this condition is a sign, a rare one, that the efforts put in are helping.