Bali Wildlife Rescue Center: habitat

One of the best parts of our work is being able to successfully return animals and birds to their natural habitat in the wild. Among them is this beautiful Changeable hawk-eagle. 

Our Bali Wildlife Rescue Center team took care of this bird of prey after it was confiscated by the Bali Bureau of the Department of Forestry’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency. After four months of care, it was ready to be released into the protected forest of Mt Batukaru, following a special Hindu ceremony and blessing. 

“I am very pleased the hawk-eagle release was successful,” says our founder and director, Dr Bayu Wirayudha. “On the second day, the bird was able to catch a lizard from the ground as well as a bird. The hawk-eagle moved away from the release area on the third day, which is a good indication of a successful reintroduction into the wild.”

Once abundant in Indonesia and the Philippines, the hawk eagle’s shrinking population faces the triple threats of habitat damage, poaching, and illegal shooting.

Most of the wildlife at our rescue center are the victims of illegal trading and poaching. The center is one of only seven in Indonesia. Thank you to the Nagaloka Foundation for covering the cost of the release. Thank you also to Simon, from the Bali Bureau of the Department of Forestry’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency, for his kind support.