Eagle Feeding - Harmful to the Eagles?

I witnessed this activity earlier this week while ';island hopping.'; Boat operators feed the eagles chicken skin thrown from boats into the sea, which the eagles swoop down to grab. Tourists watch from the boats.

I can%26#39;t imagine chicken skin being the natural diet of eagles and am concerned this activity could be harmful to the eagles.

Anybody have any information on this or know of any activity to cease this practice?

Eagle Feeding - Harmful to the Eagles?

Hi

I do agree with you wholeheartedly on this one.

I have read somewhere that because of this continual feeding the eagles stop hunting naturally as they get used to being fed and this poor diet can lead to deformity in their chicks.

There are some mangrove tours where you just see the eagles and they are not fed and I am sure this is much more in keeping with the natural way of things.

There is also the added danger of the spread of bird flu.

Unfortunately pleasing tourists is sometimes much more paramount to the boat operators than caring about the environment and nature which is really sad, but I suppose everyone has to earn a crust one way or another.

Lesley

Eagle Feeding - Harmful to the Eagles?

i always advise tourists to go for the eco nature trips. They dont feed the eagles and you can still see them everywhere in the mangroves or on the island. I hope there should be more attention for eco trips in the future especially for the birds

with love from Langkawi

I agree very much with Lesley. But I%26#39;m afraid to say it is a typical exploitation of the flora, fuana, wildlife and environment in general by the local population of Langkawi.

The likes of Irshad Mobarak, a true nature lover and environmentalist should be commended, everyone (locals) else just jumps on the bandwagon and exploits Langkawi out of greed for themselves.

In the end these people will ruin Langkawi, Malaysian conservation departments should wake up to this, but alas, its all down to the big buck at the end of the day ! Dollars, Francs and more lovely Dollars !

People visit Langkawi from far and wide just to find unclassified species of butterfly and orchid, the place is a gem, but as I say, locals are not interested in preservation.

Eagle feeding is great to see, but much better you sit out on one of the beaches, take some binoculars, spot an eagle and watch nature. The eagle will find itself a fish, watch it hunt instead of just snatching chicken skin of the surface of the sea.

I couldn%26#39;t agree more. I found it disgusting, It%26#39;s this kind of practice and total disgregard for the flora and fauna that will be the downfall of Langkawi.

I%26#39;m sure the eagles are more than capable of fending for, and feeding themselves, but of they must be fed (for the tourists, or to allow the locals to earn from the tourists) then you would think the very least they could do is feed them things they would eat naturally in their own habitat... not chicken skins!

I%26#39;m really glad to see this topic. I didn%26#39;t feel good about the mass eagle feeding either. Not only is it harmful to the eagles, but it%26#39;s probably affecting Langkawi%26#39;s whole eco-system. It%26#39;s short-term gratification over the long term good.

I understand that the particular island is to be designated as a natural reserve (or maybe it already has) and this cativity will be made illegal.

yeah, but ';illegal'; in Malaysia is open to interpretation.

Like about a year ago all the newspapers were full of how the taxis in Penang would be forced to use their meter as of August 2006, it would be illegal for a taxi to pick up passengers without using the meter. Drivers who refused to adhere to the new laws would lose their taxi licenses. Here we are a year further and the meters are still firmly covered with newspapers and tea-towels and the taxi drivers are firmly holding up their middle finger to the new law.

making something illegal is only useful if the law is actually enforced.

Carhirer,

You have not spent enough time in Malaysia to learn how things really work. It takes about two or more years there to get the idea.

You might understand the tourist circuit, but after that you have no idea. Its all bull %26amp; bucks !

Sorry, you have to have lived there to know the facts.

Thank you yamanote for bringing this to the attention of potential visitors to Langkawi. I have already posted my thoughts on this subject but would not know where to start in any attempt to prevent this kind of exploitation coming to an end.

What about the WWF, they may be interested in whats going on. World Wildlife.

Hi

As I have, in an earlier post, made it clear that I am not in favour of the eagle feeding I just wondered how anyone who was visiting the island and wanted to go on the mangrove tour to and to hopepfully see the eagles, could ensure that they were booking an eco friendly tour?

Most of the trips I have looked at in previous years all seem to feed the eagles.

Lesley