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Changeable Hawk-eagle tearing into a Black-naped Hare

on 22nd July 2010

“On arrival to Chaaya Village, Habarana, Sri Lanka, 4th July 2010, evening, we were so fortunate to be able to witness the Changeable Hawk-eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) feasting on his recent kill of the Black-naped Hare (Lepus nigricollis).

“The unfortunate hare was ripped open from his most vulnerable part, which is his stomach. The fearsome tool that the eagle had was his very strong curved and sharp beak, that constantly tore at that section of the body, tearing off portions of the skin together with the hare’s fur. Than it proceeded with tearing off pieces of fresh meat slowly filling up his crop. The whole episode lasted more than three quarters of an hour, and in the meantime the smell of fresh meat also attracted a lot of flies, which constantly accompanied us in greater or smaller numbers.

“On almost finishing three quarters of the hare, the hawk-eagle decided that it could than fly away with the remains of the hare to a more private place away from the prying eyes of us humans, and their cameras and flashes.

“This video clip was done with the Sony Handycam HDR CX 550, with a ProOptik 2x Tele-conversion lens.”

KC Tsang
Singapore
16th July 2010

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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