The Martial Eagle, scientifically known as Polemaetus bellicosus, is one of the giant eagles in Africa, with a wingspan of up to 2.6 meters and a weight of around 6 kg. This formidable predator is known for its impressive ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ skills, particularly when taking down prey as large as the wild boar.
The Martial Eagle has a striking appearance, with dark brown plumage covering its body, white markings on its wings, and a distinctive crest on its head. Its large, powerful beak and talons make it a fearsome predator, capable of taking down prey much more significant than itself. The Martial Eagle is also known for its impressive eyesight, which is eight times more powerful than a human.
The martial Eagle is one of the most powerful raptors in the world, and, among African raptors, only the African forest eagle can compare. They are apex predators at the top of the food chain, and if healthy, they have no natural enemies.
The martial Eagle’s preferred prey is usually medium-sized ground-dwelling species such as hares, guinea pigs, mongooses, squirrels, gerbils, rats, mongoose, foxes, baboons, etc., other monkeys, dik-dik antelope, humpback pig, young impala, and many other young antelope. In addition, the Eagle also ʜᴜɴᴛs carnivores such as the African lynx, the African jaguar, and the jackal.
The Martial Eagle is classified as a ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with populations declining in many areas due to habitat loss, hunting, and poisoning. Despite this, the bird remains an essential predator in many African ecosystems, helping to control populations of a wide range of prey animals.
When ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ wild boars, the Martial Eagle typically approaches from above, soaring high in the sky before diving toward its prey. As comes the boar, the Eagle spreads its wings and uses them to slow its descent. It then extends its powerful talons, aiming for the boar’s head or neck, where a ꜰᴀᴛᴀʟ blow can be delivered. After ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ, the Eagle does not eat enough and then leaves but only consumes a bit and keeps coming back to eat until all is gone. Eagles do not waste food, so they often store and hide their spoils after ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ in a secluded place to avoid the eyes of hyenas and other animals.
In the video, the eagle Martial swoops down to ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ the boars, grabbing a young one. However, the Eagle did not immediately ꜰɪɴɪsʜ but let the prey struggle in ᴘᴀɪɴ. When the prey was completely ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, the Eagle did not eat immediately but flew up to the sky, perched on a high tree to observe its surroundings. Once it has chosen a convenient food hiding place, the Eagle returns to the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ pig, grabs it with its paws to the selected spot, and begins to “eat.”
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