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By Emma Marsden and Aliss Higham
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Jackie, a bald eagle beloved by millions who have watched her life through a California nest livestream, has died after several weeks of intense veterinary treatment.
The Ojai Raptor Center, which has been caring for Jackie since she was rescued near Big Bear Lake, California, said in a statement: "Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists.
"Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her," the statement posted on Facebook reads. "We know this news will be deeply felt by the many thousands of people around the world who have followed her journey, hoped alongside us, prayed for her, and supported the people caring for her."
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Her care was being overseen by a collaborative team that included nine veterinarians and representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Center confirmed that her remains have been transferred to the department and that it will "provide a more comprehensive statement including additional information on her treatments and test results."
Newsweek contacted the Ojai Raptor Center on Monday for comment via email and online form.
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Who Was Jackie the Bald Eagle?
Jackie was the female half of a bald eagle pair that became an internet sensation through the Friends of Big Bear Valley's livestream of their nest near Big Bear Lake.
Viewers around the world have followed Jackie and her mate, Shadow, for years. The nest camera has allowed the public to watch the pair raise eaglets—including two hatched this year, Sandy and Luna.
Concern for Jackie grew in July after she disappeared from the nest and was later found grounded and unable to fly near Big Bear Lake. She had apparently been involved in an altercation with two younger eagles.
The rescued bird was transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment. Friends of Big Bear Valley subsequently identified the eagle as Jackie by comparing photographs and videos of the rescued bird with previous footage of her.
When she arrived at the center, Jackie was described as lethargic and underweight. Veterinarians found no major physical trauma but discovered severe anemia and inflammation affecting her kidneys, according to an update on Facebook the center posted on July 22.
On July 29, the center wrote regarding Jackie's condition: "She continues to receive around-the-clock veterinary care. We're pleased to share that she has now been moved from our intensive care unit, where she required oxygen therapy, to one of our regular hospital care units. While this marks an encouraging milestone, she remains a very sick patient and continues to require intensive treatment and monitoring. This is an encouraging step forward, but it does not mean she is out of danger."
Her condition initially showed some improvement following a lifesaving blood transfusion. However, her blood values continued to fluctuate during her treatment, prompting additional diagnostic testing.
In a Sunday Facebook update, the center said that "Patient 26-519 remains critically ill, and her condition is currently unstable."
"We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support, encouragement, and kindness shown to our team throughout her care," the center said. "Your messages on social media truly mean a great deal to all of us."
What Is Anemia?
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According to the American Society of Hematology, anemia occurs when the body does not have enough red blood cells or enough hemoglobin to adequately transport oxygen through the bloodstream. Red blood cells are important because they carry hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that attaches to oxygen and carries it to tissues throughout the body.
Anemia can be the result of problems making red blood cells, dysfunctional red blood cells or red blood cells dying quickly.
For Jackie, veterinarians had been closely monitoring her PCV. A healthy bald eagle would normally have a substantially higher PCV than the levels Jackie has recorded during her illness, with Ojai Raptor Center saying it should ideally be above 30 percent.
In an update on August 7, the center said Jackie was "in intensive care, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring. Her blood values have declined again, with her packed cell volume (PCV) falling below 10 percent, and her condition remains critical."
"This week's contrast CT scan and bone marrow biopsy have provided important new information, while additional specialized testing remains pending," the update continued. "Our veterinary team continues to work closely with specialists across the country as we evaluate these findings and determine the next steps in her care."
Severe anemia can leave an animal unable to deliver sufficient oxygen to its tissues, making it a potentially life-threatening condition. The cause of Jackie's anemia, however, remains unclear.
Earlier testing ruled out several possible explanations, including lead poisoning, while veterinarians have continued investigating other potential causes. The veterinary team has also used advanced diagnostic testing as it tries to determine why her red blood cell levels have fallen so dramatically.
Jackie's kidney inflammation also improved earlier in her treatment, but the anemia has remained a major concern.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Shakeema Edwards.
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