Harpyopsis novaeguineae

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	FALCONIFORMES	ACCIPITRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Harpyopsis novaeguineae

Species Authority:

Salvadori, 1875

Common Name/s:

English	–	New Guinea Eagle, Papuan Eagle
Spanish	–	Arpía Papúa

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Bishop, K., Burrows, I., Beehler, B., Mack, A.

Justification:
This huge eagle is classified as Vulnerable on the basis of an estimated small population which may be declining through habitat loss, and locally at least, hunting. However, very little is known about its population size or trends and it may yet prove to be more secure than currently thought.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Harpyopsis novaeguineae is widely distributed on New Guinea (Papua, formerly Irian Jaya, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea). It occurs at very low population densities and is nowhere common^7,8,12. There are no data regarding territory or total population size, but it is significantly less common or extirpated in most densely inhabited regions^1,7. There are only three records in four years from the heavily hunted Ok Tedi area⁹, but it has been reported to be relatively common in the Kikori basin where hunting pressure is low⁴.
Countries:	Native: Indonesia; Papua New Guinea
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate = 0.01-0.04 individuals/km² x 73,400 km² (10% EOO) = 734-2,936, but likely to be at upper end of this range, as reported to be 'common' in at least one area (density range estimated from graph of breeding density vs. mass in Newton [1979]).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is most common in undisturbed forest, but has been recorded from forest clearings and gallery forest from sea-level to 3,700 m^2,6,7. It feeds mainly on mammals, mostly marsupials and rats, but also pigs and dogs, and sometimes takes birds, lizards and snakes^3,7,12. It often hunts on the ground but also takes arboreal prey and extracts animals from tree-cavities^2,7. Only one active nest has been examined, containing a single chick, and it is possible that this species breeds less than annually⁷.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is most common in undisturbed forest, but has been recorded from forest clearings and gallery forest from sea-level to 3,700 m^2,6,7. It feeds mainly on mammals, mostly marsupials and rats, but also pigs and dogs, and sometimes takes birds, lizards and snakes^3,7,12. It often hunts on the ground but also takes arboreal prey and extracts animals from tree-cavities^2,7. Only one active nest has been examined, containing a single chick, and it is possible that this species breeds less than annually⁷.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is hunted in most if not all forests of New Guinea, especially the highlands, for its tail and flight feathers which are used in ceremonial head-dresses. Hunting pressure is most intense close to densely inhabited areas (most people live in mid-montane altitudes). Guns are becoming increasingly available in west Papua, locally increasing hunting pressure⁷, but gun ownership has dropped in Papua New Guinea¹². Logging roads also open up previously inaccessible areas to hunting⁵. It may also suffer from competition with human hunters for large mammalian prey¹¹.

Major Threat(s):

It is hunted in most if not all forests of New Guinea, especially the highlands, for its tail and flight feathers which are used in ceremonial head-dresses. Hunting pressure is most intense close to densely inhabited areas (most people live in mid-montane altitudes). Guns are becoming increasingly available in west Papua, locally increasing hunting pressure⁷, but gun ownership has dropped in Papua New Guinea¹². Logging roads also open up previously inaccessible areas to hunting⁵. It may also suffer from competition with human hunters for large mammalian prey¹¹.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. It occurs in several protected areas, such as the Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area¹⁰. It is fully protected by law in Papua New Guinea, but these laws are rarely enforced. Conservation Actions Proposed Determine territory size and relate to prey abundance. Locate nests to research basic breeding biology. Research basic ecology of prey-species. Monitor numbers in study sites such as Kikori Integrated Conservation and Development Project area. Investigate hunting levels and possible regulation through discussions with local hunters. . Enforce protection in uninhabited reserve areas. Utilise as a flagship species in ecotourism initiatives.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. It occurs in several protected areas, such as the Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area¹⁰. It is fully protected by law in Papua New Guinea, but these laws are rarely enforced.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine territory size and relate to prey abundance. Locate nests to research basic breeding biology. Research basic ecology of prey-species. Monitor numbers in study sites such as Kikori Integrated Conservation and Development Project area. Investigate hunting levels and possible regulation through discussions with local hunters. . Enforce protection in uninhabited reserve areas. Utilise as a flagship species in ecotourism initiatives.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Harpyopsis novaeguineae. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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