The national animal of Libya is the Arabian eagle. This bird of prey is an important national symbol for a variety of reasons and, as eagles often do, has played a long role in the myth, folklore, and symbolism of the people of Libya. Few animals are as important to people as the eagle in general.
Eagles are a very common choice as a national animal and it is easy to see why.
In Libya, the Arabian eagle has played an important role in both a literal and symbolic sense.
They embody many aspects of Libyan symbolism and history.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Libya?
The national animal of Libya is the Arabian eagle, more commonly called the eastern imperial eagle.
This is a species of large bird of prey which breeds most extensively throughout west and Central Asia, though they are also found in southeast Europe.
They are, by and large, migratory, though there are some populations that remain in the same place year-round.
In the winter they will typically move to North Africa, the Middle East and East Asia.
So, in Libya, they are often seasonal visitors.
They are members of the group known as booted eagles, denoting the feathery boots they wear on their legs.
They are large eagles usually falling on the average side of the larger-bodied genus Aquila.
They can range from around 27 to about 35 inches in length, and their average wingspan is around six and a half feet in males.
Females have a slightly larger wingspan of around six feet nine inches.
The males, then, are typically smaller than the females, in a case of what is sometimes called reverse sexual dimorphism.
They have a relatively long and thick neck, with a large head and bill, a square-tipped tail, and long legs.
Their plumage varies but is usually dark and light brown on the back and golden brown on the head.
They are fairly vocal when it comes to breeding grounds but otherwise are near silent.
They have a huge range as eagles tend to do, as far west as east-central and southeastern Europe.
They prefer open country with scattered trees though they also are commonly found in more dense woodlands.
They are also known to live in and near wetlands, where they mostly forage in open areas.
Why is the Arabian eagle the national animal of Libya?
The Arabian eagle is the national animal of Libya for a great many reasons.
On the one hand, eagles in Libya embody many of the same symbolic values that they do in lots of countries; ultimate freedom and liberation, soaring so high in the sky as they do and able to move at will over such a huge area.
On the other hand, they are also seen as symbols of strength and power, given that they are so large and such excellent hunters—but they also do so with grace and beauty.
This, then, is the other important thing about the Arabian eagle to the people of Libya.
They are seen as one of the best symbols of the country’s natural beauty.
They embody the landscapes in which they are found, which as we’ve seen are highly varied.
From the denser forests to the more open lands, the Arabian eagle embodies all of it.
Unfortunately, though, the species is also in a somewhat precarious position in terms of conservation.
They are currently listed as vulnerable, due to a variety of factors like the destruction of their habitat.
Making them the national animal brings awareness to this fact, then, in order to aid conservation efforts.
How many Arabian eagles are left?
Given their enormous range, it is very difficult to say with much precision how many Arabian eagles there are remaining in the world.
The best estimates suggest that there are around 20,000 breeding pairs remaining in the wild across the world.
Again, estimates could be too low but they could also be too high.
In any case, they are a threatened species and while they are not in immediate danger of extinction, they could become extinct in the coming decades if serious efforts are not undertaken to ensure their survival.
What’s the difference between a golden eagle and Arabian eagle?
Arabian eagles are generally smaller than golden eagles; they are more slender and not as bulky, and generally not as powerful in appearance.
Their proportionally larger head can make them seem larger from a distance but the golden eagle is the bigger eagle.
Golden eagles usually have paler brown feathers though the accent feathers are often brighter.
Golden eagles also tend to fly with their wings pointed upwards, and have a gradual, tapering wing shape—this is again very unlikely the Arabian eagle.
Overall, then, the simplest way to tell the difference is just in size. Arabian eagles are noticeably smaller and more slender, though they are not small by any means.
Though they may be easy to confuse with other species of eagle at first, then, once you know, you know.
The Arabian, or eastern imperial eagle, is one of the world’s most majestic bird species and so it is easy to see why it has played such a significant role in Libya’s symbolic history.
Few birds in the world are as important to human cultures as eagles have been and so they will no doubt continue to hold this same importance for many years.