The harpy eagle is so big, it looks like a human in a costume

Some snaps showing a harpy eagle, have recently gone viral on social media with lots of people wondering if there’s actually a bird, a human in a costume or a strange creature from a science-fiction movie. Honestly, watching those photos, it can be each an every one of them. But in fact, is only a bird. Well, actually it is the largest bird on Earth. Everybody, meet the harpy eagle!

However, despite its online reputation, the species is on the endangered animals list. The harpy eagle is a fierce predator, being on the top of the food chain. However, because of human hand, mostly because of deforestation, their numbers have dramatically decreased.

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Native to rainforests from Central and South America, there are less than 50,000 individuals left in the wild, most of them living in the Brazilian forests. Here it gained a name that is worthy of its stature – the royal-hawk.