Eagles Feeding on Dog Carcass in Wildlife Conservation Area

The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values (FPWC) has posted a video on its Facebook page showing bald eagles tearing apart a dog carcass.

“Bald eagles live and feed in groups. This facilitates both food sourcing and nest protection. Furthermore, by watching each other in the air, they find the most suitable updrafts for their flight,” the organization stated on its Facebook page, noting that the video was provided by rangers of the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values.

It is visibly clear even to the naked eye that the eagles are gnawing on a dog’s body, although it is not mentioned how the dog ended up in the protected areas of the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values.

Manuk Manukyan, a former employee of the Yerevan Zoo, told NEWS.am that the Foundation belongs to Ruben Khachatryan, the director of the Yerevan Zoo, who also supports the Yerevan municipality in the process of gathering stray dogs. Thus, the dog found its way into an area owned by Ruben Khachatryan, where the eagles are now feeding on it.

It should be noted that the Yerevan municipality is implementing a stray dog sterilization program carried out by the “Stray Animal Disposal” NGO, with the dogs temporarily placed within the territory of the Yerevan Zoo.

“First, we need to understand whether we should be feeding the eagles or not. Secondly, eagles do not eat live prey but carrion. The animal's head is severed, but its tail and skeleton are visible, indicating that the eagles are eating a dog,” Manukyan told the news outlet.

Regarding the collection of dogs, Manukyan mentioned that just days ago, there was a video showing employees of the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values neutralizing a stray dog.

“It left a very unpleasant impression. I have nothing against animal sterilization, but such actions should not be carried out in front of children, dragging a dog by a ‘noose’ down the street. The video clearly shows the organization's vehicle. The way ‘noose’ was pressed against the dog made it unable to make any sound,” he said.