ATLANTA — Zoo Atlanta had some sad news to share on Wednesday: Sequoyah, one of their male bald eagles, has died.
Sequoyah had been with Zoo Atlanta for just over nine years, according to a press release. He was an adult when he arrived at the zoo, but his exact age was unknown.
Sequoyah was hatched in the wild, but sustained a wing injury - likely due to a collision with a power line - and underwent rehabilitation at the Southeast Raptor Center. While federal law dictates that all bald eagles capable of being released must be released, Sequoyah's injury made him ineligible to return to the wild. So, in 2015, he came to Zoo Atlanta.
Over time, Sequoyah's wing healed. But, in recent weeks, he had been experiencing increasing discomfort in it, the release said. The Veterinary Team investigated, and Sequoyah was shown to have a poor prognosis, so the decision was made to humanely euthanize him on Wednesday morning.
“Sequoyah was a magnificent individual who introduced countless Zoo Members and guests to the majesty of a national symbol, and he represented a conservation story for one of North America’s most treasured native species,” Gina Ferrie, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation, said. “As he was a bird who was not going to be able to survive in the wild, we are honored to have been able to provide him with the best possible home and care over the past nine years.”
Bald eagles, known as the symbol of the U.S., are federally protected and considered threatened in Georgia. The species is found only in North America, from Canada and Alaska through the contiguous 48 states and northern Mexico. Bald eagles are most often spotted near coasts, rivers and large lakes, as their diet consists primarily of fish.
The most pressing threats to bald eagles are power line collisions, automobile collisions, lead poisoning and pollution, the zoo says.
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