130925-studie-wildlife-comeback-in-europe

4.16. Spanish imperial eagle
Aquila adalberti
Summary
The Spanish imperial eagle was close to extinction
by the 1960s. Since implementation of concerted
conservation efforts, the species is in the process
of recovery. Population size has increased and
there is evidence of recolonisation of parts of its
former range. The major threats include electrocution
from electricity towers, habitat degradation
and poisoning. Conservation efforts focus on legal
protection, habitat management, modification of
electricity structures, supplementary feeding and
private land support.
moderate reproductive rate. It is endemic to the
western Mediterranean region and at present
occurs exclusively in the Iberian Peninsula [1] . It
is the most endangered raptor in Europe and one
of the rarest birds of prey globally [2] . The Spanish
imperial eagle was traditionally considered a
subspecies of the Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila
heliaca), but is currently considered a separate
species [3, 4] . The first evidence of Spanish imperial
eagle appears in late Pleistocene deposits in the
southeast Iberian Peninsula [4] .
Table 1. Global IUCN
Red List status [14] ,
European population
and SPEC status [15]
and EU population
status [16] of Spanish
imperial eagle.
Background
General description of the species
The Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) is
a large, long-lived and sedentary raptor with a
Scale Status Justification
Global
Vulnerable
(since 2005;
was considered
Endangered in
2004, Vulnerable
during 1994–2000
and Threatened in
1988)
Small population, which is dependent on ongoing
intensive management measures.
Europe
EU25
Endangered
(SPEC 1)
Endangered
Small population size (