‘Magnificent’ bald eagle likely injured by power line dies after 9 years at Georgia zoo
A bald eagle that couldn’t live in the wild arrived at a Georgia zoo nine years ago following a collision with a power line.
Now, after a new flare-up in his wing, Sequoyah has died, Zoo Atlanta announced Aug. 7.
“Sequoyah was a magnificent individual who introduced countless Zoo Members and guests to the majesty of a national symbol, and he represented a conservation story for one of North America’s most treasured native species,” Gina Ferrie with Zoo Atlanta said in a news release.
The bald eagle hatched and lived in the wild until he was discovered with a wing injury that veterinarians believe resulted from hitting a power line, the zoo said.
It’s illegal to keep bald eagles that could otherwise be released into the wild, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. But even after the bird was rehabilitated at the Southeast Raptor Center, he was deemed “non-releasable” due to the severity of his injury, zookeepers said.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved sending him to Zoo Atlanta for a permanent home, where he had lived since June 2015, the zoo said.
“As he was a bird who was not going to be able to survive in the wild, we are honored to have been able to provide him with the best possible home and care over the past nine years,” Ferrie said.
Sequoyah was an adult when he arrived at the zoo, but his exact age was unknown.
In the weeks leading up to Sequoyah’s death Aug. 7, zookeepers said they noticed he was experiencing discomfort in his wing. Veterinarians evaluated him, but the results “revealed a poor prognosis,” the zoo said.
“The teams made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Sequoyah,” zookeepers said.
Bald eagles are only found in North America, ranging from Canada to northern Mexico, according to wildlife experts.
Although bald eagles are no longer listed on the Endangered Species Act, they’re still federally protected.
This story was originally published August 7, 2024 at 3:37 PM with the headline "‘Magnificent’ bald eagle likely injured by power line dies after 9 years at Georgia zoo."