A fiesty Hawaiian hawk that was found shot and wounded early this year has a new permanent home.
A fiesty Hawaiian hawk that was found shot and wounded early this year has a new permanent home.
The Hawaii Wildlife Center announced an endangered ‘io from Volcano that sustained injuries from a shooting and received specialized medical and rehabilitative care was transferred to the Honolulu Zoo on Thursday.
As a federally listed endangered species, the shooting of the ‘io remains under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement.
The ‘io was brought to the wildlife center, the state’s only native bird and bat hospital, at the end of January, and her condition was assessed by staff members and veterinary consultants. Although the trauma was not surgically reparable, staff continued to monitor the hawk and saw her behavior and condition continue to improve.
Her feisty behavior earned her the nickname “Hawaii’s Warrior Princess” among staff and community members involved with the rescue and recovery process.
Killing or injuring wildlife protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act is a serious offense and is punishable by a maximum fine of up to $100,000, one year in jail or both. Members of the public are encouraged to report any wildlife incidents to the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
People interested in helping protect and care for this and other native Hawaiian species are encouraged to contact the Hawaii Wildlife Center. More information can be found at www.hawaiiwildlifecenter.org.