Saker Falcons Get Second Chance

KAZACHII, Russia (Reuters) - A bird of prey with coal-black eyes hangs briefly in the air then flaps it wings and soars into the Siberian sky as a cluster of conservationists on the ground breathe a collective sigh of relief.

A few weeks ago, this saker falcon — one of an endangered species — was being smuggled out of Russia. Stuffed inside a tiny bag with its wings bound, it was heading for the Middle East where it could have been sold for thousands of dollars.

But this bird, along with 17 others of the same species, was intercepted by Russian customs officers. All were released back into the wild in the Altai region of southern Siberia on Monday.

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