Fort Wayne Zoo to welcome two North American bald eagles

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - The Fort Wayne Zoo is set to welcome two North American bald eagles just ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.

The Zoo says it plans to unveil “a living example of one the nation’s most majestic symbols” during a special summer introduction.

The eagles, Liberty and Spirit, will be featured at the Zoo as a visiting species in the Australian Adventure area.

Liberty has already arrived in Fort Wayne from another AZA-accredited facility, and Spirit will join him later this season. Both will undergo a quarantine period before moving into their new habitat.

The zoo says Liberty sustained injuries that made it so he cannot safely be released back into the wild. They say animals like Liberty are important ambassadors that help to educate guests about their species and the importance of wildlife conservation.

Bald eagles were once on the brink of extinction because of habitat loss, hunting, and the effects of pesticides in the U.S. Now, the species has made a “dramatic comeback” and is now considered one of America’s greatest conservation success stories, zoo leaders say.

A special ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on July 1 to celebrate Liberty’s arrival. The zoo says guests can follow their social media pages for updates on Liberty and his public debut.

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