Ashanti the Verreaux’s Eagle was stolen from her nest as a chick to become someone’s exotic pet, and it was her good fortune that she ended up at the Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre where she is now cared for with great affection. Ashanti’s quite the diva, and who can blame her when she is so entrancingly beautiful?
As a registered NGO receiving no government support, the Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre relies heavily on donors, sponsors and the visiting public to fund their very important work. Their tiny staff compliment is responsible for the rehabilitation of between 80 and 200 birds of prey every year, all of them injured by or negatively impacted in another way by humans, and then releasing them back into the wild when they’ve recovered sufficiently. If you can’t visit them in person, please visit their website and, if you are able to, assist them in their efforts by making a donation (monetary or in kind).
DeWetsWild 
Awesome photos from you both and really showing the eagle’s incredible power and of course her beauty. Glad the centre exists to give birds such as this with such a sad backstory a chance of living a reasonable life, even if they can’t be free.
There’s hope and gladness in knowing that at least this beautiful bird is living a better life now than what some people intended for her.
You’re right, Ashanti is a beauty. I like her name as well.
Thanks, Siobhan. Indeed, the name is fit for an African queen.
Ashanti is ongelooflik mooi Dries! Wat gaan met die mensdom aan om so ‘n pragdier te steel uit ‘n nes!? Dankie vir die pragtige reeks fotos!
Baie dankie vir die gawe kompliment, Aletta. Ja, ek kan net my kop skud oor die vermetelheid van die mensdom, en dit maak my hartseer om te wonder hoeveel arendkuikens dan nie gered word soos gelukkig met Ashanti gebeur het nie.
Dis waar, dit is so onregverdig van die mensdom😩
A spectacular creature and clearly built for hunting. Those talons and beak look lethal! So enjoying this photo series….
Thanks very much, Lori. We had great fun putting it together – sorry to say the next post featuring Fish Eagle Hali will be the last in the series featuring the birds being cared for at the Dullstroom Bird of Prey and Rehabilitation Centre.
Ashanti looks in such good health and shows a wonderful spirit – so happy to see she is now well cared for at the Rehabilitation Centre. So lovely to see Joubert’s beautiful photographs alongside your own too – you make a wonderful team! 😀🦅
Thank you very much, Xenia – Joubert had a huge smile on his face reading your comment.
Ashanti is a magnificent and imposing bird and we are also grateful that she’s getting the love and care she deserves.
‘Entrancingly beautiful’ is a wonderful description! The close-up of one of her talons makes a great image.
Ashanti really is a majestic bird, Anne. I felt a bit guilty when she caught my gaze – to think that a human robbed her of her the life she was meant to live.
This is such a sad story, Dries. Joubert has captured Ashanti’s grace and agility so wonderfully in his photos. What an amazing looking bird she is.
She has an amazing “presence”, Tracy. Truly regal. And thanks also for the kind words about Joubert’s photo’s – he’s going to be so chuffed when I show him our comment.
It is praise well deserved for Joubert. 🙂
She is magnificent! So glad she did not remain an “exotic pet”.
I’m also glad that she’s being cared for by the centre, Anne, and able to spread her wings at least. But I am also saddened to think about the fact that she should have loved her life in complete freedom and a human stole that from her.
What symbol of power and natural beauty! She’s impressive! Thanks, D. 🙂
The 2nd biggest African eagle, H.J, and every bit as majestic as she looks in these photos.
Oh my goodness–she is a beauty! ‘Someone’s exotic pet’…..you just want to shake some people and say, “what are you thinking??!!”
Incredible to think that some people regard themselves so highly to think that they deserve to “own” something this beautiful.