[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 37 (Monday, April 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     DISCOVERY OF A MADAGASCAR SERPENT EAGLE BY THE PEREGRINE FUND

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues something that occurred recently in Madagascar. The first 
capture and release of a Madagascar serpent-eagle--Eutriorchis astur--
in 63 years was confirmed recently by the Peregrine Fund, a nonprofit 
conservation organization based in Boise, ID. Biologists were also able 
to take the first live photographs ever of this rarest of species.
  The first confirmed sighting occurred on November 2, 1993, at the 
edge of some of Madagascar's last remaining rainforest by Peregrine 
Fund biologists Russell Thorstrom, Victor Baba, and Barthelemy Damary. 
They had established a camp at a bird inventory site in northeastern 
Madagascar when Mr. Thorstrom discovered the eagle not far from the 
camp.
  Although Mr. Thorstrom and his colleagues saw this serpent-eagle 
several times over the next few days, they were unable to photograph it 
during this trip. Returning to the area 3 weeks later with traps and 
radio gear, they discovered the forest was being destroyed by slash-
and-burn farmers and the eagle was not found.
  Subsequently, on January 14, 1994, on the west side of the peninsula, 
Malagasy field biologists trained by the Peregrine Fund trapped a 
Madagascar serpent-eagle. Before it was released, a band was placed on 
the bird and careful measurements and photographs were taken. These 
photographs were used to confirm the identity of the bird.
  I would like to congratulate Rick Watson, Russell Thorstrom, Victor 
Baba, Barthelemy Damary, Martin Baba, and others from the Peregrine 
Fund who were involved.
  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I would also like to add my 
congratulations to the Peregrine Fund for this accomplishment. The 
Peregrine Fund is best known for their efforts to recover the Peregrine 
falcon. Very few people know that this is an international conservation 
organization which has worked in over 30 countries around the world. 
They discovery of the Madagascar serpent-eagle is an excellent 
milestone for this organization.
  Madagascar is one of the world's top 10 conservation priorities. 
Three of the world's most endangered birds of prey exist there. The 
Peregrine Fund has been working in Madagascar since 1990 to conserve 
these species and their wetland and rainforest habitats. For the first 
time since 1930, when early explorers shot the last specimen of the 
Madagascar serpent-eagle, Peregrine Fund biologists have captured and 
released for study this very rare eagle.
  Mr. CRAIG. A brief side note about Boise State University's 
involvement with the Peregrine Fund. Very few people know that Boise 
State University is the only university in the world where one can 
obtain a master's degree in raptor biology. Russell Thorstrom, the 
biologist who saw the eagle, received this degree in 1993. This 
important work is supported by the Liz Claiborne Foundation, 
Environment Now, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and 
U.S. Agency for International Development. I congratulate the sponsors, 
the Peregrine Fund and these fine scientists for their discovery and 
important conservation work.

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