DEAR Editor,-
I refer to misleading information in Alex Skene’s refutation of my letter about crowned eagles. Alex states ‘There is an overpopulation of monkeys, which is the eagles’ main diet, so it would be interesting to know where Steven obtained his information.’
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This is not only disingenuous, but also implies an increase in the crowned eagle population would satisfy the many who would welcome a reduction in the number of monkeys. Besides his assertion, I found no source claiming monkeys are the main component of crowned eagles’ diet.
Neither is there any consensus that monkey populations have increased. Alex is involved in Shane McPherson’s research here. In a recent presentation at Umtentweni Library (reported by Judi Davis), Shane affirmed hyraxes, not monkeys, are crowned eagles’ preferred prey, as stated in my letter, and this remains one of my concerns.
McPherson suggests an increase in monkeys and domestic stock being taken might indicate a decline in hyraxes, which I postulated. He states that of 85% of remains found in nests, 42% were hyrax, 19% hadeda and that ‘blue duiker and monkeys are also important prey’, while 7% were species other than wildlife.
He warns that most frequent pet attacks occur when young crowned eagles have been habituated and fed by humans and refers to a potential for human-wildlife conflict. He states that in close association with urban development, a local population of crowned eagles has the potential to be a concern for domestic stock and pet safety.
I don’t know exactly where nests are sited, but clearly there’s one very near Bend Road, Umtentweni. The assertion that SA has one of the highest densities of mammals in coastal forests is also misleading.
A report in The Mercury of May 7 (‘Habitat loss a threat to species’) reveals that over 12% of KZN’s natural habitat has been lost since the 2004 Environmental Outlook report. And that the even more serious loss and environmental degradation recorded during the last 25 years threaten the survival of species and maintenance of key ecological processes.
We are losing approximately 109 906 hectares per year mainly to urban development, which will obviously increase with unsustainable human population growth. Alex’s statement that we have ‘one of the highest densities of mammals’ in our forests should therefore not be taken to imply that forests and species within them are not declining rapidly.
To the losses of habitat and wildlife already mentioned, we can add the proliferation of snaring and illegal hunting which is rife locally. This is why my concern remains that an increase in the crowned eagles’ population would lead to a further decline in more endangered wildlife like hyrax and duiker.
Again I stress that I’m a conservationist and don’t advocate harming crowned eagles, nor interfering with their natural breeding. My only concern is that they are not artificially assisted at the expense of more vulnerable, harmless species, including pets.
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He unfairly accused me of being ‘extremely careless’ and requested my sources. The authoritative sources that corroborate the points I made are available online, taken from papers by academics and researchers in the public domain.
Doubters should research, among others, Craig Symes, Wits, Gerard Malan and Eleen Strydom, Univ. of Tshwane, Suzanne Shultz, University of Manchester, Graham Avery, Iziko SA Museum, the Journal of Ornithology and Shane McPherson quoted above. It’s easy enough simply to Google ‘Diet of crowned eagle’ and seek academic sources.
STEVEN VAN STADEN
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