A juvenile lesser spotted eagle (aquila pomarina), which was found with gunshot wounds in Birzebbuga the previous Sunday, was flown to Germany on Air Malta last week. The airline offered to transport the injured bird free of charge on its flight to Frankfurt where it can be examined and treated for the injuries sustained.

Sigmar, as the eagle has been nicknamed by the German press, is barely three months old. It was on its way to Africa from Germany, passing over Malta.

There are about 100 pairs of lesser spotted eagles in all of Germany, and this particular species is critically endangered and strongly protected. The bird was one of 16 eagles that in all cost EUR 1 million (Lm430,000) to rescue in a project aimed at saving the second sibling in eagles’ nests in the county of Oberhavel, Germany. It is hoped that the bird found injured in Malta will be rehabilitated and released again.

Air Malta’s assistance to Sigmar forms part of Air Malta’s “Committed to the Community” initiative, which aims to support and encourage local organisations and activities in various sectors be they cultural, social, philanthropic, environmental, heritage and sport, and which help the Maltese community in some way or another.