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The Brazilian scientific community celebrates a rare event of extreme importance for national biodiversity. About two weeks ago, a new baby was born in a private reserve in southern Bahia. The record is considered a historic milestone, as this is the only known nest with chicks in the entire Atlantic Forest this year.
The birth took place in the Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) Estação Veracel, located in a preserved area between the municipalities of Porto Seguro and Eunápolis. The region is strategically vital for the survival of the species, which faces serious risks of extinction due to habitat loss.
Preservation History
Veracel Station has an emblematic trajectory in the study of these birds of prey. It was in this conservation unit that, in 2005, researchers identified the first harpy eagle nest in the entire Atlantic Forest. Since then, monitoring has been rigorous. In 2018, the reserve had already registered two other active nests, both with chicks, consolidating the place as a safe haven for the reproduction of the species.
Importance to Science
The harpy, also called the harpy eagle, is a bird that needs large areas of preserved forest to survive and reproduce. Because it has a slow reproductive cycle, usually one baby every two or three years, each new birth is received with enthusiasm by biologists and environmentalists.
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For experts, the presence of this alive and healthy cub is a positive indication of the environmental quality of the Bahian reserve. Monitoring will continue remotely to ensure that the growth of the little harpy occurs without human interference, allowing it to soon fly and help repopulate the forests in the extreme south of the state.
