SELATI'S VERREAUX'S EAGLES

The Selati Game Reserve is not just a sanctuary for iconic African fauna and flora but also serves as a vital refuge for one of Africa’s most enigmatic and under-studied birds of prey: the Verreaux’s Eagle. This majestic eagle, also known as the Black Eagle, represents an integral part of the complex ecological web that sustains life in this unique landscape. It’s not just about the eagles; it’s about preserving a vital part of an ecosystem increasingly stressed by human activities.

The Lillie hills within our reserve have long served as crucial breeding grounds for the Verreaux’s Eagles. This is not coincidental. These eagles prefer habitats like cliffs, rocky outcrops, and escarpments – conditions the Selati Game Reserve provides in abundance. Here, they find the optimal vantage points for hunting, contributing to the balance of the area’s ecosystem by naturally controlling populations of small to medium-sized mammals such as hyraxes and rock dassies.

The Verreaux’s Eagle is not merely another bird of prey; it symbolises the natural grandeur and resilience we aim to preserve and showcase. With wingspans of up to 2.4 metres and a keen predatory intelligence, these eagles are marvels of natural engineering. Beyond being an awe-inspiring sight, they carry cultural and spiritual significance in the African communities they inhabit.

However, like many other majestic creatures that call Africa home, the Verreaux’s Eagle faces challenges threatening its existence. Habitat loss, human interference and even persecution have led to its classification as a near-threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Given its importance to the ecosystems it inhabits and as a symbol of the natural heritage we’re committed to preserving, the Selati Wilderness Foundation finds it imperative to focus conservation efforts on this remarkable species.