Rare eagle: From stitched eyes to open skies

Its eyes were stitched shut, its flight feathers damaged and its body reduced to a shadow of what it should have been. Rescued from a remote area of Sukkur, a rare white-tailed eagle is now preparing to take to the skies again - nearly 150 years after the species was last reliably recorded in Pakistan.

The eagle, rescued last year in an extremely weak and injured condition, has made a remarkable recovery and is now about 90% healthy. The infection caused by the stitching has cleared completely, while its flight feathers have begun growing back.

If its recovery continues as expected, the bird will be released in the Margalla Hills in December, coinciding with the seasonal movement of migratory birds.

The eagle was discovered by a group of young bird enthusiasts conducting research on migratory birds arriving in Pakistan from colder regions. According to bird-watcher Haroon Yousafzai, the bird was in such poor condition that rescuers immediately moved it to a secure location for treatment and rehabilitation.

Its ordeal, however, had begun long before the rescue. Yousafzai said the eagle had been deliberately confined at a site used to trap other birds of prey. Its eyes had been sewn shut with thread to prevent it from flying, leaving it with severe wounds and infections. Its flight feathers had also been damaged.

Adding to its misery was an inappropriate diet. Instead of its natural food, including ducks and fish, the eagle had been fed chicken entrails and other unsuitable items, leaving its digestive system in poor condition. After the rescue, sustained medical care, proper nutrition and round-the-clock monitoring gradually began to reverse the damage. Its eye infection has now completely healed and its flight feathers are growing back.

The bird's recovery has drawn particular attention because of the rarity of the species in Pakistan.

Yousafzai said available historical references indicate that the white-tailed eagle was last reliably recorded in Pakistan around the 1870s in the Agrowr Valley, an area adjoining Mansehra and Oghi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Other references point to possible sightings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but these records are considered less reliable.

Sindh Wildlife Deputy Conservator Mumtaz Soomro praised the young rescuers, saying timely reporting and cooperation between citizens and wildlife authorities were crucial to saving rare species.

The Sindh Wildlife Department plans to release the eagle in the Margalla Hills once it has fully recovered. Experts say choosing a suitable natural habitat is essential to ensure the bird has access to food, water and shelter and can resume its natural behaviour. Before release, the eagle will be fitted with a GPS tracking tag.