A Rare Glimpse into Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) Predation on Coatis (Nasua nasua): Camera-Trap Evidence of a Successful Capture and a Failed Ground-Level Pursuit

Camera trap footage from the Taricaya Ecological Reserve in Madre de Dios, Peru, captured rare and significant observations of a Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) preying on a South American Coati (Nasua nasua) on the 25th of August 2023. The video clips reveal the result of a successful hunting attempt, showing the harpy eagle firmly grasping a dead coati in its talons. The following video shows the eagle opportunistically hunting a different coati on the forest floor that manages to escape. This is the first reported case of a harpy eagle displaying opportunistic hunting behavior on ground level.

Pottie, Sam