Threatened species of Eutriorchis astur
Name(s):
Threatened species of Madagascar serpent-eagle
Nature
[Eutriorchis astur] numbers must be very low and are certainly declining with extensive habitat clearance and disturbance, and probable human persecution.
Background
[Eutriorchis astur] is a very rare inhabitant of undisturbed primary rainforest in eastern Madagascar where, apart from unconfirmed reports of its presence in Marojejy Reserve in the 1960s and 1970s and despite considerable search-effort within its habitat, it was not recorded between 1930 and 1988. Although it may yet be found in any large surviving areas of low to mid-altitude rainforest. It appears to be a low-density, subcanopy-dwelling denizen of lowland forest.
Incidence
Two recent records in reserves at Marojejy, September 1988, and Ambatovaky, February 1990, and two more from the Masoala peninsula (in an area targeted as a major new national park), during 1993--1994, confirm its survival, and local reports from the Maroantsetra region indicate the existence there of a raptor fitting its description. However [Eutriorchis astur] is likely to experience at least a 25% decline with severe fragmentation, within the next three generations.
The Madagascar Serpent-Eagle is listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN. CITES lists the species as "Appendix 2".
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