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Crested Serpent Eagle Rescued in Busan Set for Return to the Wild After 5-Month Rehabilitation

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The Nakdong River Estuary Eco Center (Wildlife Treatment Center), under the Busan Nakdong River Project Management Office, announced that it will release a rare bird of prey, the Crested Serpent Eagle, found in Busan, back into the wild on May 30. The release will be carried out in collaboration with the National Institute of Biological Resources under the Ministry of Environment and Changnyeong-gun near Mt. Hwawang.

The Crested Serpent Eagle is a non-migratory bird widely distributed across Sri Lanka, Japan, southeastern China, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Its primary habitats include forests, lowlands, farmlands, and wetlands, and it mainly preys on snakes, lizards, and frogs. In Korea, only a few sightings have been recorded in regions such as Gimhae, Tongyeong, Busan, Socheongdo (Incheon), Baengnyeongdo, and Chuncheon.

The eagle was found disoriented by a Busan citizen in December 2024 and transported to the city’s Wildlife Treatment Center. After receiving 24-hour intensive care in the recovery room, the eagle was moved in March 2025 to an outdoor circular aviary for flight training and adaptation to the natural environment.

The chosen release site—Okcheon Valley near Mt. Hwawang in Changnyeong—is surrounded by dense forest, clean water, and abundant prey. The quiet surroundings of the valley are expected to aid the eagle’s hunting activities. The area hosts plentiful populations of snakes, lizards, and frogs—the eagle’s primary food sources—and poses no risks such as collisions with urban glass buildings, making it an ideal location for release.

Should the release of the Crested Serpent Eagle prove successful, it is anticipated to become a model case of institutional cooperation in wildlife conservation. In partnership with the National Institute of Biological Resources (Director Yoo Ho), a GPS tracking device has been attached to the eagle. The tracking data received will be used to study the eagle’s future movement patterns.

Kim Kyung-hee, Director of the Busan Nakdong River Project Management Office, stated, “Our goal is to help the Crested Serpent Eagle return to the wild and live a healthy life through exemplary cooperation with Changnyeong-gun and the Ministry of Environment,” adding, “We hope this process will not only raise public awareness about the importance of wildlife protection, but also become a new opportunity for the development of both regions.”