Steppe eagle rescued after 12-hour struggle by SP College faculty, students

Srinagar, Apr 20: In a heart-wrenching rescue effort, a steppe eagle was saved after being found hanging helplessly from a tall chinar tree, its legs tightly entangled in a plastic rope.

The bird had been struggling for nearly 12 hours, suspended mid-air and unable to free itself. “The rescue was carried out by the students and faculty of SP College, with support from Women’s College. The bird was safely rescued by the family and students,” reads a handout issue by SP College Srinagar.

The rope, which was not part of the bird’s nest, had likely come from a waste site or discarded material and got wrapped around the eagle’s legs during flight.

The distressed raptor was spotted in time by alert students of S.P. College, who, along with faculty members and in coordination with Women’s College, mounted a timely and coordinated rescue operation that ultimately saved the bird’s life.

This disturbing incident once again underscores the serious and often overlooked impact of plastic and non-biodegradable waste on wildlife.

As human-generated waste increasingly finds its way into natural ecosystems, animals, especially birds, are becoming unintended victims. Plastic ropes, bags, and polythene materials can trap, injure, or even kill animals when not disposed of responsibly. The steppe eagle’s ordeal serves as a grim reminder of the growing environmental hazards posed by our wasteful habits.

“Authorities, institutions, and individuals must urgently prioritise sustainable practices and proper disposal of non-biodegradable waste. The time to act is now, before more wildlife suffers preventable harm in the name of our negligence,” the handout reads.