Valladolid, Spain - September 08, 2025 On September 8, 2025, two juvenile Spanish imperial eagles were released into the wild as part of a conservation initiative led by the regional environmental agency. The videos of the event show one eagle flying gracefully over dry fields and scattered trees, marking a hopeful moment for the species, which faced critical endangerment in the 1960s when only 30 pairs remained in Spain due to habitat loss and declining prey. The eagles’ plumage reveals their ages: one, with pajizo (straw-sandy) feathers, is estimated at 8 to 30 months old, while the other, showing damero (more brown with black feathers), is between 30 and 48 months old. Since the 1980s, targeted conservation programs have helped the population rebound, though the Spanish imperial eagle remains vulnerable. Releases like this aim to strengthen their numbers and ensure the species continues to recover amidst ongoing environmental challenges, including land use changes and wildlife protection concerns. Authorities emphasized that these efforts are crucial to sustaining the species’ presence in Spain and supporting broader biodiversity goals.