A critically endangered osprey was rescued after a serious accident near Ruse and is currently being treated at the “Green Balkans“ Wildlife Rescue Center in Stara Zagora. The bird was found helpless on the side of the road, initially with speculation that it had been hit by a car, BNT reported.
Dr. Rusko Petrov, operations manager of the “Green Balkans” Wildlife Rescue Center: “The bird came to us on April 15, found in a ditch by the road. Its condition is serious – arrived with a fractured leg, wounds on the wing and a stab wound in the abdominal cavity“.
During the operation, it became clear that the eagle had probably been shot.
“We found several bullets in the abdominal area and wing. The bullets are for quail. The trend of poaching does not stop“, emphasized Petrov.
Due to the severe injuries, amputation of one leg was necessary.
Dr. Stefka Dimitrova: “There were fragmented pieces of bone, torn tissue and the leg had to be amputated. The bird is on systems and medication therapy."
The bird is in critical condition, it is not feeding itself.
The eagle was tagged in Finland, from where it migrated to Bulgaria.
The rescue center specifies that the animal will not be able to be returned to the wild. The possibility of making a prosthesis and including it in breeding programs is being discussed. The case will be forwarded to the competent institutions due to suspicions of poaching.