Serbian team rescues rare eagle from Syria

A rare eastern imperial eagle named Feliks has been rescued from animal traffickers and released back into the wild in Serbia after spending months in captivity.

Feliks was snatched by poachers in Syria shortly after leaving his nest last year. The captors demanded a ransom, which conservationists refused to pay to avoid funding the smuggling chain. After prolonged negotiations, the bird was transferred to a wildlife centre in Beirut, Lebanon, where he spent over six months recovering. His repatriation to Serbia was arranged on a military plane this summer. The species is critically endangered, but conservation efforts since 2017 have helped the population grow from just one pair to 29 pairs in Serbia this year, according to the Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia (BPSSS).

Tracking data showed Feliks heading toward the Middle East in July 2025, but his signal was lost in October. Initially, experts thought the tracker had failed. Once the bird resurfaced, it became clear he had been abducted and was being held for sale. Weeks later, a partner group in Lebanon confirmed Feliks’ captors had demanded a ransom. Conservationists refused, calling it a direct support to wildlife trafficking. After tough talks, Feliks was freed but faced another ordeal when refugees smuggled him across the Nahr al-Kabir river on the Syria-Lebanon border in a potato sack. Serbian peacekeepers later escorted him to Palic Zoo, where he arrived “exhausted” after a long military transport. His health was closely monitored during weeks of recovery.

Feliks was released into the wild on Thursday. Conservationists hope he will regain strength, survive threats, and eventually breed. “We wish Feliks to get stronger as soon as possible, survive all the adversities, conquer his territory and leave descendants,” said Milan Ružić, executive director of BPSSS. The case highlights the ongoing battle against wildlife trafficking, especially for critically endangered birds. Feliks’ rescue marks a rare success, but poaching and smuggling remain major threats to species survival across borders.