MUZAFFARABAD: A large eagle fitted with a solar-powered GPS device and a yellow wing tag marked “F49” was caught in Pir Chanasi, a tourist site near Muzaffarabad, prompting speculation among locals and experts.
The bird was discovered with tracking equipment strapped to its back and a prominent yellow tag on its wing.
Viral footage shows multiple individuals carefully handling the raptor while examining the device, which appears to be a solar-charged GPS/GSM tracker commonly used in wildlife research.
Wildlife experts said the eagle is unlikely to be an ordinary bird of prey.
“Codes like F49 are standard in global eagle, falcon, and vulture monitoring projects,” one expert noted. “These trackers are deployed to study migration routes, habitat use, and movement patterns across continents.”
Sources suggest the bird could be part of an international research or migration tracking program. The GPS units are typically used by conservation groups and ornithologists to collect data on migratory raptors.
While the exact origin remains unconfirmed, experts believe the eagle may be a migratory raptor associated with research programs in Central Asia or Gulf countries. Several nations and NGOs run long-term tagging initiatives to monitor endangered raptor species that cross multiple borders during seasonal migration.
Local authorities have not yet released an official statement on whether the bird will be released with its tracker intact or handed over to wildlife officials for further assessment.
The incident has sparked curiosity in the region, with the F49 tag and solar GPS unit pointing to a broader scientific effort rather than anything nefarious.
