harpia harpyja

[briansayers]

has one of these giants ever escaped from a uk zoo and attacked humans or livestock?

[nickmo]

Doubt it . Its the size of a starling.

OOOh scary stuff.

Now if you had said Struthio camelus, well now you can get worried.

[Cetti]

What starling have you seen with a 7 foot wingspan then nickmo ;-)

I can't find any incident brian, but if one did escape then the powers that be would certainly be on full alert as this is as you know the most powerful eagle in the world, easily killing deer, monkeys, sloths and known to be aggressive to humans. An awesome but handsome bird.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/harpy_eagle.htm

[rd14962]

If a person weighed about nine pounds they would be in danger of being attacked and carried away, there are no records to say one has ever attacked a human as prey, only when defending it's nest, as would many birds.

It could take a lamb, rabbit or poultry as prey, So sleep well my friend, if one does escape from a nearby zoo, rest assured YOU wont be on the menu.

Now, a lion escaping...................................

[nickmo]

Hi Cetti - well, never been up close to one, so they look really tiny to me - starling sized in fact!!, so no, not worried. When one sits on me I'll get the picture.

Had a close encounter with Golden Eagle before now they are big and heavy birds...............

what was the name of the one that escaped from London Zoo? Wasn't it Goldie? About 30 years ago if I remember. Don't think that got any little old ladies or children in its talons though........