Recent reports suggest that Egypt’s national animal, the steppe eagle, is facing the unfortunate prospect of extinction, despite once being present in large numbers.
The steppe eagle holds cultural and historical significance to Egypt and its people, often associated with strength, resolve, and independence. Although the species does not solely reside in Egypt, these migratory eagles dominate the Egyptian skies between October and January during the winter season.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List previously believed that these large, well-feathered raptors were only endangered in their northern range. However, recent studies show that their population outside Europe is also declining at an alarming rate.
By comparing data from 1997 to 2011 and that from 2013 to 2015, scientists now estimate that the species’ numbers have been reduced by over 50% over the past and present three generations, spanning from 2013 to 2027. Unless the threats to the species are effectively mitigated, this decline is projected to persist at a similar rate for the next three generations.
The steppe eagle was one of a few birds of prey frequently associated with the goddess Nekhbet, depicted in temple decorations in ancient Egypt. Nekhbet was revered as Upper Egypt’s patron deity and known as the ‘protector of the king.’ Conflicting accounts suggest that Salah Al-din Al-Ayyubi, the founder of the Ayubbid dynasty and the famed Sultan of Egypt, either took the steppe eagle or the Egyptian golden eagle as his personal standard. Salah Al-din’s insignia, featuring a prominent eagle, is widely considered to symbolize him at the Cairo Citadel, constructed during his reign.
After the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, the newly-instated government replaced the Kingdom of Egypt’s green, crescent-and-stars emblazoned flag with the Arab Liberation flag, which features Salah Al-din’s eagle at the center in gold. These emblems became symbols closely associated with republican Egypt and the broader movement of Arab nationalism.
Boasting a wingspan of over two meters, the steppe eagle, also known as Aquila nipalensis, can be found in a variety of habitats across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, including steppe, desert, open savanna, agricultural fields, and grasslands. It is large and sturdy in appearance, with dark brown plumage and a long yet thick neck, and specializes in hunting ground rodents.
