A rare Russian Osprey was rescued in Siaya after being found entangled in a fishing net by local fishermen near Lake Victoria. While heading out for a fishing trip, the group spotted the exhausted bird struggling and carefully freed it before taking it to a nearby resident’s home.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was immediately contacted to ensure the bird’s safety. In a statement released on Saturday, November 8, KWS confirmed the bird’s Russian origin after identifying a tag on its left leg. Such tags are typically used by researchers to track bird migration and gather vital conservation data.
Dr. Isaac Lekolool, Head of the KWS Veterinary Department, and Dr. Simon Thomsett, a renowned raptor specialist, oversaw the rescue. “The exhausted feathered traveller from the Palaearctic region was carefully secured and put under expert supervision,” KWS noted. Under the leadership of Deputy County Warden Byatt Shikanga, the Siaya team ensured the Osprey received immediate attention.
Ospreys are large, fish-eating birds of prey with distinctive brown and white plumage and a masked dark eye stripe. They feed almost exclusively on fish and can migrate over 10,000 km annually. East Africa, including Kenya, serves as a key stopover for these long-distance migrants.
Following the rescue, the Osprey was transferred to the Raptor Centre at Soysambu Conservancy for a thorough medical check, monitoring, and rehabilitation. KWS urged the public to report injured or sick wildlife through its toll-free or WhatsApp numbers or visit the nearest KWS station for assistance.
This sighting is not the first in Siaya. In 2020, two Ospreys from Finland were spotted in the region, though one tragically died despite rescue efforts. The latest rescue highlights the importance of public vigilance and collaboration in protecting migratory wildlife.
