• The project, which is being carried out by Banco Santander Foundation through its Natural Heritage Recovery programme, aims to scientifically monitor this bird in the Doñana National Park, taking measures to learn about the evolution of its population and prevent its extinction.
• The very positive results of the project indicate that the imperial eagle population is recovering although threats are detected during its migration to Morocco.

Madrid, 16 August 2016. The “Scientific monitoring of the Imperial Eagle in the Doñana National Park” project began in 2014 at the initiative of Migres Foundation, the Doñana Biological Station (CSIC) and the Regional Ministry of the Environment and Territorial Planning of Andalusia, with the backing of Banco Santander through its Foundation.

The imperial eagle is one of the five most endangered species in the world and endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. Its low and very vulnerable population in Doñana, which has been isolated from other subpopulations of the species, has had to face various threats throughout its history, including electrocution on power lines, poison, infertility in some cases, a higher percentage of males, etc. They also face threats in countries such as Morocco, to which these birds migrate. Since 1990, a dramatic fall has been recorded, from 15 regular nesting pairs to just seven. In 2004 a rescue plan was launched, which over the last few years has required improved monitoring in order to learn about the evolution of the population and to continue investigating this species’ mortality and the causes thereof.

That is how the “Scientific monitoring of the Imperial Eagle in the Doñana National Park” project began, which in 2014 and 2015 covered a range of actions, such as the repair of nests, locating and ringing young specimens, determining their sex and equipping some of these birds with transmitters. Following two years of monitoring, the results show that the imperial eagle population remains stable or has grown slightly, with an average fertility of 0.9 chicks per pair and the sex ratio (the sex ratio of flying chicks) slightly skewed towards females.

Furthermore, the use of radio transmitters (VHF) and satellite transmitters (GPS/GSM) for the monitoring of the population has enabled contact between subpopulations of other areas (from Cádiz, Sierra Morena) to be detected, which indicates the end of isolation and higher chances of survival.

Moreover, it confirms the threat its migration to Morocco entails, as a result of power lines, etc.

The project’s video “Scientific monitoring of the Imperial Eagle in the Doñana National Park” can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_kR4rqNjNo

Banco Santander is strongly committed to the communities in which it operates. In 2015 it dedicated 207 million euros to social investment, 60 million euros of which were to support higher education (1,200 agreements with educational institutions), and 47 million euros to programmes supporting the community, which benefited 1.2 million people. The bank has formed part of the DJSI Index since 2000 and part of the FTSE4Good Index since 2003, which recognise its socially responsible investment. More information here.

About Banco Santander Foundation and its natural heritage recovery programme
By clicking on the link below, you can access a map with the various natural heritage recoveries that the Foundation has been carrying out for over 15 years in natural spaces belonging to the Natura 2000 network in various areas of Spain. Atlantic forests, marine prairies in Almeria, peat bogs in Asturias, idyllic habitats such as the Trapa in Majorca or the laurel forest in Tenerife, as well as the help given to endangered species besides the imperial eagle, such as, the osprey in Huelva, the brown bear, the capercaillies and bees, and to the creation of a CITES centre to save animals in captivity. And the projects to come…

https://www.fundacionbancosantander.com/es/recuperacion-de-espacios-naturales

Download PDF 425 Kb