Black Eagle Initiatives
Animal Rescue Centre
Verreaux's (Black) Eagle Conservation
Cape Town’s Big Five safari reserve, Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa, was created 25 years ago, and is named after the rarely-sighted “Black Eagle” or Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii). This large bird of prey is regularly seen from a distance by eagle-eyed rangers and Aquila’s safari guests.
In partnership with ARC (Animal Rescue Centre), Aquila is committed to safeguarding the Western Cape’s Verreaux’s black eagle population whilst providing a 10 000 hectare natural reserve environment for their conservation.
With increasing threats from poaching, habitat loss and urban expansion, Aquila’s focus on habitat preservation and land restoration ensures Verreaux’s Black Eagles have access to suitable nesting sites and natural prey resources in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Aquila verreauxii
Verreaux's Eagle
KINGDOM : Animalia
PHYLUM : Chordata
CLASS : Aves
ORDER : Accipitriformes
FAMILY : Accipitridae
GENUS : Aquila
SPECIES : A. verreauxii
Black Eagles in the Western Cape
In the wild, sightings of Black Eagles are a rare and special event. These magnificent raptors are renowned for their solitary and elusive nature. With their native habitat spanning the southern and eastern regions of Africa, the presence of Verreaux’s Black Eagles is said to indicate a thriving and balanced ecosystem, adding significance to each sighting as a cause for celebration.
At Aquila Private Game Reserve, a dedicated conservation team form part of the Cape Leopard monitoring programme. This initiative involves placing cameras strategically at the sites of recent kills made by the reserve’s nocturnal (and endangered) Cape Mountain Leopards.
However, the cameras often capture incredible sightings of local Black Eagles feasting on the leopards’ prey.
This incredible footage not only highlights the importance of preserving the reserve’s natural ecosystem, but reinstates the significance of maintaining a safe and thriving environment for the Western Cape’s native birds and unique wildlife.
