Rare Eagle Stolen From Zoo; 2nd Theft This Month

For the second time in less than two weeks, thieves have broken into a locked cage late at night and stolen a rare bird from the San Diego Zoo.

This time the heist occurred sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning when someone entered a cage holding a male and female African bateleur eagle and stole the 30-year-old male, which had lived at the zoo since 1961.

The incident follows the June 3 theft of a female African milky eagle owl from a cage about 100 yards and over a hill from the bateleur eagles, zoo spokesman Jeff Jouett said.

Two Thefts Baffle Zoo Officials

Zoo officials are baffled by the two thefts, which apparently were well-planned and done by someone with specific knowledge about the birds, though there is no direct evidence that they were done by the same person or persons.

“Whoever did it,” Jouett said, “was someone who knew exactly what bird and exactly what species they wanted to take.”

The stolen eagle was one of only 25 bateleur eagles in U.S. zoos. Found mainly south of the Sahara in the wild, this particular eagle was hand-raised in Somalia and very tame. It was accustomed to being fed by hand, which zoo officials believe made it vulnerable to theft. A less-tame eagle would probably have injured a thief with its large and powerful talons, said Jouett.

While the eagle was old--the birds can live to be about 40--it was very attractive, with a four-foot wingspan, black body feathers, white feathers under its wings, bright red feathers on its feet and face, and a red tail. It weighed 5 to 10 pounds. Bateleur eagles, which in the wild eat snakes, small animals and carrion, are known for their flying aerobatics. The word bateleur is a French description of their aerial wizardry.

Different Techniques on Thefts

When the owl was stolen, officials discovered that three strands of barbed wire had been cut on the fence surrounding the zoo next to California 163, near the Quince Street exit. The owl was captured by cutting a 2-foot square in the bird’s wire cage. The cage door and lock were not disturbed.

But, according to Jouett, the thieves broke into the eagles’ cage by way of the door. The lock is missing, and zoo officials don’t know whether it was broken or whether someone opened it with a key, Jouett said. Officials did not find any cuts this time in the zoo’s perimeter fence.

The eagles’ cage had been checked sometime after dark Tuesday. The theft was discovered at 7 a.m. Wednesday by a zoo keeper. San Diego police are investigating.

The zoo has 24-hour armed security patrol its 100 acres. But, as Jouett noted, with the canyons and steep terrain in some areas, it’s difficult to “make it 100% secure.” Though he declined to provide details, Jouett said the zoo is increasing its security.

“What people should realize is that this isn’t just a crime against the zoo but against the (citizens) of San Diego,” Jouett said. “We’re mad as hell.”

While he said the eagle “to us is priceless,” Jouett said replacing the bird would cost about $2,000, “assuming another is available.”

What confounds zoo officials is that whoever stole the bird will have difficulty selling it, once word of the theft spreads, and risks being revealed if the eagle is put in a private collection.

“Maybe it’s someone who has a serious ego” problem, he said.