National Save The Eagles Day: Five Endangered Species That Battle For Existence

There wouldn't be a more majestic bird out there dominating the sky. Eagles, with their brilliant eyesight and amazing wingspan, are right on top of the food chain. Such is their strength and beauty that the bald eagle was declared the official emblem of America in 1789.

That said, many of the eagle species are critically endangered. Amid threats like poaching, habitat loss and pesticides, around 60 species of eagles populate the world, the majority of them in Eurasia and Africa.

Rightfully, every year, on Jan. 10, the world observes Save The Eagles Day to remind us how human intervention has threatened the existence of these birds. The day was founded in 2014 after a study conducted by Skymark Development Corp highlighted the need for such an observance.

Since then, the U.S. observes the day by launching efforts to save eagle population habitats through awareness programs.

Here are five species of critically endangered eagles, which may soon go extinct if not for immediate intervention programs.

1) Harpy Eagles: The Harpy Eagle is among the largest species of eagle in the world. Such is this bird's strength that it is one of the most feared hunters in Brazilian forests. Its population, however, is rapidly dwindling due to shrinking forests, according to the WWF. These species are also widely killed out of curiosity and a desire to see them up close.

2) Philippine Eagles: Endemic to the Philippines, this species is regarded as the world's longest eagle. However, they are critically endangered following the destruction of nesting sites due to deforestation and illegal killings. Since Philippine Eagles aren't adapted to flying long distances over the ocean, they are left with fewer places to go due to widespread deforestation.

3) Flores-Hawk Eagles: Believed to be found on six islands in Indonesia, Flores-Hawk Eagles are also victims of widespread habitat clearance. They are widely hunted by farmers since these birds often prey on livestock. Since this species is quite rare, Flores-Hawl Eagles are often in demand for the live bird trade and taxidermy.

4) Indian Spotted Eagle: This vulnerable species of eagles are often found in South-East Asia. Not much is known about these species, but their population is rapidly affected by the disturbance of forested habitats within their range.

5) Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle: Identified by their brown barring on the belly, these raptors are medium-sized to large eagles found in grassland and savannah across a narrow range in sub-Saharan Africa. They are listed as Vulnerable BirdLife International as their population has fallen by 80-93% over the last 30-35 years. Reason: Agriculture, human development, overgrazing, woodcutting, hunting and urbanization.