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Biodiversity initiative to restore extinct bird to Irish skies

Biodiversity Initiative

The Taoiseach was in Tarbert, Co Kerry last week, 5 August 2022, along with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), to release a number of white-tailed eagles into the wild. This is part of a long-term biodiversity initiative to re-establish the population of this once extinct species in Ireland.

This was followed by a further release today on 9 August in Killarney National Park, by the Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, TD, accompanied by the Norwegian Ambassador, Mari Skåre.

The re-establishment of breeding white-tailed eagles at sites like Killarney, Glengarriff and Lough Derg has proven hugely popular with local residents and visitors. The potential for positive economic benefits from ecotourism was demonstrated in Mountshannon, Co. Clare, when the first breeding pair nested within sight of the village in 2012, attracting thousands of visitors over the following years.

One of the first pairs of White-tailed Eagles to breed in Ireland was in Killarney National Park in 2013 and the pair have remained in the park since, once again fledging a chick this year. Their nest is in a tree on an inaccessible cliff, but visitors may be lucky and catch a glimpse of the eagles soaring over the mountains or catching fish in one of the park’s many lakes.

As he released the birds in Killarney National Park the Minister commented: “This is an incredibly exciting and technically complex project whose success depends on the collaboration of many groups, including our NPWS teams, local farmers, conservationists and communities, the Norwegian Authorities and many other partners in Norway. Their collective efforts over many years have brought us to this point. I’d like to pay tribute to all involved and acknowledge their commitment to making this project a success, now and in the years to come.”

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