Based on a documented complaint from an environmental activist and a sustainable hunter regarding the presence of a raptor, specifically a Golden Eagle, inside a large cage in Jal el Dib, the APU Operations Team moved to the location to secure its release.
Upon contacting the owner of the premises, it was revealed that he was a hunter named Pierre Abou Jaoudeh, who has extensive experience in the world of birds. He had rescued the injured eagle from poachers who intended to kill and stuff it. Acting with environmental responsibility, he treated and cared for the bird before handing it over to the APU unit, requesting that it be taken care of and released outside Lebanon to protect it from illegal hunting.
Abou Jaoudeh expressed the deep bond that had formed between him and the eagle during its recovery period.
The head of the APU unit, Sherine Bou Raffoul, received the eagle and referred it to the head of the injured bird rescue department, Dr. Didier Zeghni, and veterinary consultant Dr. Abdo Klassi for the necessary examinations and to develop a treatment plan that would ensure its safe rehabilitation into the wild.
The APU Unit, affiliated with the Middle East Sustainable Hunting Center (MESHC) and SPNL, is implementing a project to combat illegal hunting with the support of the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. The project is carried out in collaboration with BirdLife International, in partnership with CABS, and in coordination with the Internal Security Forces, the Information Branch, and Army Intelligence.
The activities of the APU Unit contribute to the BioConnect project, a 45-month initiative running until October 2025. This project focuses on enhancing the management and governance of ecologically significant sites, establishing new Protected Areas and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and promoting broader landscape conservation in Lebanon. The BioConnect initiative also aims to improve ecosystem health, provide socio-economic benefits, and support local communities by addressing key pressures on biodiversity.
In line with APU’s protocol, which mandates naming each rescued bird after the hunter who contributed to its rescue, the unit decided to name the eagle “Pierre” in honor of Abou Jaoudeh’s efforts. Additionally, Bou Raffoul presented him with a certificate of appreciation, recognizing his cooperation and emphasizing that a sustainable hunter is the foremost environmentalist and a true defender of nature and responsible hunting.
