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)
Am
Sad. More signs needed? But if people don’t care, nothing will make them. With the exception of perhaps huge fines and CCTVs.
Lee Chiu San
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.
YC
Thanks Chiu San. Good to know exactly what happened.