Blog: zoos supporting the white-tailed sea eagle

Graeme Dick, white-tailed sea eagle EEP Coordinator, on how BIAZA members can support this striking bird of prey.

The white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is one of Europe’s largest birds of prey. They have an impressive wingspan of up to 2.4 meters. Their sheer size, powerful presence, and striking white tail feathers make them a standout species, captivating visitors and serving as a flagship species for conservation education. However, few currently exist in zoos.

White-tailed sea eagles are not just another raptor; they represent an incredible success story of species recovery in Europe. Once extinct in the UK, they have been successfully reintroduced and continue to establish breeding populations in Scotland, Ireland, and England. Ongoing projects are seeing them reintroduced. White Tailed Sea Eagles now fly about Scotland, Norfolk and the Isle of Wight. Zoos and wildlife parks which hold and breed this beautiful species play a direct role in the wider conversation around reintroductions, ecosystem restoration, and the importance of apex predators in the wild.

As the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) coordinator, we’re hoping for additional holders of breeding pairs, and we’re encouraging BIAZA members to consider this magnificent species as part of their conservation efforts.

You might be able to tell that I am passionate about the white-tailed sea eagle. I believe that few species offer the same potential for engaging the public in discussions about native wildlife conservation. Holding white-tailed sea eagles provides opportunities to educate visitors on a range of important topics, including:

• The role of predators in balancing ecosystems
• Rewilding efforts across the UK and Europe
• The importance of international breeding programs in safeguarding genetic diversity

White-tailed sea eagles do not breed until around eight years of age, they are long-lived birds with strong pair bonds. Therefore, zoos homing a breeding pair are contributing to a long-term, sustainable conservation effort. The EEP is further working to ensure a healthy captive population that could support future conservation initiatives, including reintroductions where needed.

For zoos which are able to prioritise native species, white-tailed sea eagles offer unique conservation, educational, and engagement benefits that few other species can match. I know BIAZA members, are constantly striving to make a tangible impact in supporting native species.

I’m hopeful that this extraordinary community will rise to the challenge and stand up for the white-tailed sea eagle.

If you are a BIAZA member zoo and are interested in learning more about becoming an EEP holder for white-tailed sea eagles, please get in touch. Let’s work together to secure a future for this incredible species.

For more information contact; [email protected]

- Graeme Dick, EEP coordinator for White Tailed Sea Eagles

All blogs reflect the views of their author and are not necessarily a reflection of BIAZA's positions