Isimangaliso Wetland Park: Stronghold for the Southern Banded Snake Eagle.

Southern-banded Snake eagle, Isimangaliso Wetlands Park

 
The Southern Banded snake-eagle is one of the rarest and most critically endangered raptors in South Africa with fewer than 100 mature individuals estimated in the whole country. Even the global population estimate is fewer than 2000 individuals!....As with many other endangered species worldwide, the main reason they are in trouble is habitat destruction... Vast tracts of suitable habitat -in the form of dune forest and lowland coastal forest-have been removed for mining, agriculture, timber plantations and development. Prior to the proclamation of the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park (formerly the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park) even the Eastern shores and Western Shores section of the reserve were covered with 15 000ha of eucalyptus and Pine plantation which were subsequently removed. Most of these former plantation areas were planted in the coastal grassland/wetland areas but some -such as on the way to Mission rocks- were planted in areas of former dune forest. The long process of rehabilitation for these felled forest areas can take hundreds of years before they return to pristine climax forest.  Pretty sobering to think that it only takes a few months to cut down a beautiful forest and centuries for it to return again…..

Fortunately though, the proclamation of the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site has secured much of the remaining dune forest habitat in South Africa together with large tracts of coastal forest, making it the stronghold for South Africa’s Southern-banded Snake-eagle population.  These raptors are now a regular sight in the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park and it’s not uncommon to see a few different individuals on a single outing into the reserve. Luckily, they are ‘creatures of habit’ and like to perch in the same trees (or telephone poles) regularly, making them easier to find for us birdwatchers. In recent times they have even become more common in St Lucia village itself where we regularly see them on our birding walks or even soaring above town. It is a real privilege to see these rare birds on such a regular basis and have the opportunity to share the excitement of seeing them with other birders and nature lovers…

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Southern-banded snake-eagle eating an Eastern green snake, Eastern shores Isimangaliso Wetlands Park.