A rare crested serpent eagle discovered inside a sack by the roadside has been handed over to conservation authorities in central Vietnam for care and rehabilitation.
Authorities in Khe Sanh Commune, Quang Tri Province, said on August 5 that they had coordinated with Huong Hoa Forest Rangers and local police to transfer the bird to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park for rescue and treatment.
The bird was discovered at around 4.30 pm on July 31 by Nguyen Truong, a resident of Khe Sanh Commune, while he was returning home from work. He noticed unusual movement inside a sack lying beside the road and, after opening it, found an unfamiliar bird inside.
Truong initially intended to release the bird into the forest, but it was too weak to fly. He instead took it home and provided temporary care.
After researching the species online and realising it was a protected wild animal, he contacted local forest rangers and commune officials. On August 1, he voluntarily brought the bird to the Khe Sanh Commune People's Committee, hoping it would receive proper care from wildlife authorities.
Following an inspection, officials identified the bird as a crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela), a species listed under Vietnam's Group IB classification of endangered, precious and rare forest wildlife, which receives the country's highest level of protection.
To comply with legal procedures, local authorities issued a public notice seeking the lawful owner or custodian of the bird, while simultaneously coordinating with Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to complete the transfer and begin rehabilitation efforts.