Typhoon Bawei Hinders Wildlife Rescue in Taoyuan; Eagle Safely Retrieved

Typhoon Bawei's passage through northern Taiwan created hazardous conditions, severely impacting wildlife rescue efforts in Taoyuan. The Taoyuan City Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center reported receiving over 80 rescue calls for wild animals on a single day, July 12.

One particularly challenging rescue involved an injured Crested Serpent Eagle found in the mountainous area bordering Taoyuan and Yilan. The rescue team's journey to retrieve the bird became an arduous, day-long operation due to the typhoon's aftermath. Roads were blocked by fallen trees and scattered rocks, with some sections of the road even being washed away by waterfalls cascading down mountain slopes.

Despite initial optimism about the road conditions, the team encountered severe obstacles after passing the Sule Bridge. They had to navigate carefully through the debris and, at one point, manually remove large rocks blocking their path to continue the retrieval. The effort to reach the eagle and bring it back to the center took an entire day, described as the "longest transport."

Upon examination, it was determined that the Crested Serpent Eagle had a fractured left wing that had not fully healed, likely hindering its ability to forage and leading to its weakened state. Due to the complexity of the injury and the need for specialized care and rehabilitation space, the eagle has been transferred to the Taiwan Raptor Research Association for continued treatment.

The rescue highlights the dedication of wildlife rescuers who braved dangerous conditions to save an animal in distress, demonstrating the significant impact of severe weather events on local wildlife and the challenges faced by conservation efforts.

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The longest transport.