The national animal of Brunei is the white-bellied sea eagle. This is an important national symbol which embodies a great many aspects of the country’s pride and natural landscape. Eagles feature prominently on the country’s flag and coat of arms, and they are seen as representations of the nation’s core values.
Eagles are a very popular choice as national animal, and it’s easy to see why.
They have captured the human imagination for many millennia, and no doubt will continue to do so long into the future.
In Brunei the sea eagle in particular is seen as one of the most important of all the country’s national symbols.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Brunei?
The national animal of Brunei is the sea eagle, specifically the white-bellied sea eagle.
This is one of many species of the sea eagle genus, though most species are geographically isolated and this is one of only one or two species that you are likely to see in this part of the world.
They are important symbols for a number of reasons in Brunei.
They were originally taxonomically classified and described in 1788 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, being closely related to the species find on the Solomon Islands, the Sanford’s sea eagle.
They have a white head and naturally belly, as well as coverts and tail being white.
Other than that, their plumage is dark grey to brown. They have a short, wedged tail and they can measure as long as 35 inches long with a wingspan of as long as 7.2 feet in the females.
Females, as in many other raptor species, are large than the males.
They have a loud, goose-like honking as their call, unlike the kinds of iconic screeching that other eagles sometimes emit.
They are found from India and Sri Lanka to island Southeast Asia and even in Australia, and as their name suggests they are most commonly found on coasts.
They can also be found on major waterways like rivers.
Naturally, fish forms a great deal of their diet and depending on where they live it can be as much as half.
They are, though, also opportunistic and will eat both carrion and whatever other prey they can find.
They are currently listed as of least concern, but human activity has led to the slow decline of their population numbers.
In the future, things may need to change to ensure the continued survival of this species.
Why, then, are they Brunei’s national animal?
Why is the sea eagle the national animal of Brunei?
There are a few important reasons why the sea eagle is the national animal of Brunei.
For one thing, there’s the simple fact of their very real and important role in the ecology and wildlife systems of the country.
They are vital links in the chain of nature and prey on many different animals keeping certain populations in check.
They are, then, embodiments of Brunei’s natural beauty and for that reason are as important to the country’s symbolism as any animal, plant or flower.
On the other hand, the eagle itself is seen to embody many core values from the human perspective.
They are emblems of freedom, liberation, and striving; in their high flight they embody the core Brunei and indeed human principle of always achieving more and not being confined by our environments.
On the other hand, conservation can often play a role in the decision to adopt a certain animal as a country’s national animal.
Though they are, as mentioned, not currently under any threat, that may change if trends continue the way they have been.
These animals need protection now in order to prevent a crisis in the future, and making them the national animal can bring attention to this.
How many types of sea eagle are there?
There are ten extant species of sea eagle in their broader genus.
These can be found all over the world, with some in North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, northeastern Asia and even Greenland.
The species are highly morphologically diverse and many of them often look more like ospreys or albatross than they do like typical eagles.
So, again, as mentioned, it is the white-bellied sea eagle that is found in Brunei, though the grey-headed sea eagle is also found in Southeast Asia and so seeing one in Brunei would not be impossible.
Are sea eagles aggressive?
Sea eagles are not aggressive to humans in the majority of cases.
They certainly will not seek out confrontation with humans and have no particular reason to bother humans in any case.
That said, they are large birds with powerful beaks and claws, and in the unlikely situation that you had cornered one then doubtless it would defend itself.
Eagles, being birds, can simply fly away from any situation that threatens them, so there is really never any reason why a sea eagle would be aggressive toward a human.
They hunt small prey and just catch it so they don’t need aggression there, either.
So, there are many types of sea eagle but the one you’ll see in Brunei is the white-bellied sea eagle and this is the country’s national animal.
They are quite distinctive looking compared to our typical image of an eagle, and this in part has also been an important aspect of its importance in Brunei.
They are unique and striking birds and they embody many aspects of the country’s core values.