Wild eagle rescued after hours-long operation in Rajouri

Rajouri, Sep 5: A wild female eagle trapped for two days in a 90-foot pine tree was rescued after a risky, hours-long operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department, and local volunteers in Rajouri district.

The wild female eagle had been entangled in kite strings for the last two days on the tree, which had no branches, making the rescue difficult.

Locals said they had earlier attempted to save the eagle but failed due to the steep height and absence of footholds, while an earlier rescue attempt by the Wildlife Protection Department also could not succeed for the same reasons.

On Thursday evening, officials said, a fresh operation was launched jointly by the SDRF, the Wildlife Protection team and local volunteers.

SDRF personnel tied ropes around the tall pine tree and climbed at great personal risk to reach the trapped bird, and after painstaking efforts, the eagle was finally brought down safely.

Officials confirmed that the rescued eagle was given necessary medical aid immediately after being freed.

"It was a challenging rescue operation, but our boys completed it with success and have rescued a bird that was struggling hard for life," officials said.