A large crowd of residents flocked to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre on the weekend to watch MLA Scott Fraser release an eagle back to the wild.
Fraser was chosen because he has been a great advocate for the centre, said president of NIWRA, Sylvia Cambell. The non-profit organization cares for and rehabilitates Vancouver Island wildlife, especially raptors and black bear, as well as educates the public on wildlife.
The eagle released Saturday had been recovering at the centre since last year. He was a local eagle that was most likely hit by a car, Campbell said.
It was a magical moment as the raptor gracefully spread its wings and, demonstrating its newfound power and strength, flew over the tree tops and back into the wild.