The injuries were so severe that “Artemisia” had to be euthanized, BirdLife Austria reported. The police investigation is ongoing. “It is sad and embarrassing that ‘Artemisia’ was benevolently accompanied by the public on its long journey through Europe and that it was pursued in such a brutal way – hardly back home -” said Matthias Schmidt of BirdLife Austria. Employees of the Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park brought the animal to the Haringsee Owl and Bird of Prey Station (EGS) run by the “Four Paws”. There was no rescue: “The investigations revealed that the bird was apparently shot while it was sitting. The bullet went through both legs and almost severed them. Open fractures and massive blood loss were the result.”
Not the first illegal wildlife hunt
According to BirdLife, several cases of illegal wild animal persecution have been reported in the municipality of Zurndorf in the recent past. The killing of a marsh harrier, a common buzzard and the setting up of illegal traps were reported. “Our experience shows that the group of perpetrators usually has a hunting background,” says Schmidt. BirdLife Austria therefore demands, among other things: “In the future, all birds of prey in Austria should be recorded via nature conservation legislation and not via hunting laws. This is the only way to efficiently process illegal persecution cases and prevent possible concealments.”
spent the winter months in Greece
“Artemisia” was fitted with a GPS transmitter on June 27, 2021 in northern Burgenland as one of two nest siblings. While the sibling bird “Johannes” collided with a wind turbine and died in October 2021, “Artemisia” undertook a special journey. “It was remarkable that she spent the winter months in Greece, since only a few of our imperial eagles fly that far south,” reports Schmidt. When the bird, after its return via Austria in March, set off on an “unprecedented” (Schmidt) tour of Europe, which led to Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France, among other places, it caused an international sensation.
Source: Nachrichten
