site.bta Project Aims to Reduce Imperial Eagle Death Rate from Electrocution

Project Aims to Reduce Imperial Eagle Death Rate from Electrocution

Sofia, March 13 (BTA) - Up to 80 per cent of the young imperial eagles and a considerable portion of adult birds in Bulgaria die from electrocution at contact with the electricity distribution network, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds said. In order to protect the population.

In order to protect the population of the world endangered imperial eagle and to reduce death rate EVN Bulgaria Electricity Distribution is implementing a project titled "Life for the Imperial Eagle" in partnership with the society. The project is co-funded under the EU LIFE programme.

To date, this means 476 safe electricity poles in Sliven municipality, and 15 live wires in the region of Harmanli replaced with a safety system of entirely insulated wires. The project's most large-scale activity includes total eradication of land wires in some of the Natura 2000 areas most important for the imperial eagle in Sakar and their replacement with underground ones. A total of 43 km of undergrounds cables were installed in Topolovgrad municipality and air lines are about to be removed. This will mean total eradication of the danger for the birds.

Activities this year will continue with replacement of 30 km conventional air lines in Elhovo and Topolovgrad municipalities with entirely insulated ones. Protective insulation on poles will also be installed in Sliven region.