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Young White-bellied Sea-eagle strangled by fishing net

on 26th June 2014

A Singapore filming company was at Pasir Ris Drive 3 on 24th June 2014 to film an active nest of the White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) found in an albizia tree (Paraserianthes falcataria) (above). This segment on the sea-eagle is to be part of a wildlife documentary for Channel News Asia.

In the nest were two adults and one juvenile that looked to be about 10 weeks old. This was according to Simon Cherriman, the visiting eagle biologist. And on the ground was a dead juvenile, estimated to be about 6 weeks old (above). The image below shows Simon examining the dead sea-eagle.

It died by what appeared to be strangulation by a fishing net – the first such case reported in this website.

Previously we had strangulation by discarded fishing line: Heron LINK; hornbill LINK; kingfisher LINK; myna LINK; owl LINK; and waterhen LINK.

It is time fishing enthusiasts are once again reminded not to dispose of their used lines irresponsibly. Similarly fishermen should not simply leave their used nets about but rather bring them home and dispose of them responsibly.

YC Wee
Singapore
June 2014
(Note: Image of dead sea-eagle by Natalie Huang, others by Syafiqah Omar)

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.

Other posts by YC Wee

3 Responses

  1. Sad. More signs needed? But if people don’t care, nothing will make them. With the exception of perhaps huge fines and CCTVs.

  2. At Simon Cherriman’s lecture to the Nature Society Singapore on 28th June I asked about this incident. He clarified that the young sea eagle had not been strangled by a piece of fishing net. It had died in a tangle of fishing line.

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