Rare eagle shot dead

The senseless killing of a rare female African Crowned Eagle in Hillcrest has earned the ire of the community.

The Hillcrest Conservancy, posting on its social media pages, said the large bird, who was due to lay eggs, was found in the vicinity of Northland Road, near Springside and Cliff roads, and had been shot dead.

"This senseless and aggressive murder of the mother eagle is condemned and mourned by the whole community," the Conservancy said.

The bird had lived at the Springside Nature Reserve for many years.

"Although she fought for her life, the damage was too great and (she) died. She and her partner have raised many offspring over the years and were getting ready to lay a new egg," the conservancy said in their social media post.

The conservancy added that it was dangerous and illegal to fire a weapon in a built up area.

"It is illegal and unacceptable to kill African Crowned Eagles in South Africa both because they are protected but also because of their rarity. The penalty for such an act is imprisonment up to 10 years and or a fine," the conservation added.

Crowned Eagles have become rare as they are often shot and either injured or killed in semi-developed areas.

In 2020, an investigation was launched by the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) after a young Crowned Eagle was rescued by volunteers from the roof of a home in Hillside Avenue, Hillcrest – it had been shot three times with a pellet gun in Malvern.