In what is being described as ‘a death in the family’ by residents in Hillcrest, KZN, a reward is being offered for information after someone shot a crowned eagle in the Springside Nature Reserve.

The eagle, which had a tracking device fitted, was found wounded on August 12 under dense vegetation in a garden on Shortlands Road after the tracker showed unusual and intense activity.

The Raptor Rescue staff cared for her for a few days as they explored the extent of the injury and tried to understand the cause.

An x-ray revealed metal shards embedded in her, and the nature of the large hole of the wound indicated that the eagle was shot by most likely a .22 rifle.

The eagle died on August 17.

George Victor, Hillcrest Conservancy chairman, said every family living around Springside has seen and/or heard the eagles calling to each other.

“Year after year, we have watched the youngsters grow from white balls of fluff into magnificent juveniles, first resplendently white, then developing their brown colours as they age as they head off to start their own lives and families elsewhere.”

The eagles were part of an international eagle research programme under the leadership of Shane McPherson.

Pinetown resident, Bruce Edwards, has offered a R1 000 reward to anyone who can assist with useful information that can lead to the prosecution of the person responsible for shooting the crowned eagle.