Cádiz monitors Spanish Imperial Eagle to detect West Nile virus

The Junta de Andalucía is intensifying conservation efforts for the Spanish Imperial Eagle in the province of Cádiz. As part of a regional recovery plan, technicians have fitted three eagle chicks with GPS transmitters to monitor the species' expansion and serve as an early warning system for West Nile virus.

Because the Spanish Imperial Eagle is highly sensitive to the infection, it acts as a sentinel animal for public health. If a bird becomes ill or dies, the GPS signal allows veterinary teams from the Threatened Species Recovery Centers (CREA) to quickly locate the specimen for diagnostic testing. This monitoring helps Animal Health services implement mosquito control measures to protect nearby populations if the virus is detected.

The initiative is part of a broader recolonization process in Andalusia, where the species had previously faced extinction. Since the launch of the Recovery Plan in 2011, the community has grown to include 176 breeding pairs.