Philippine eagle rescued in Aurora

The national bird of the Philippines, the Philippine Eagle or “Haring Ibon.” Photo by Klaus Nigge, courtesy of Haribon Foundation

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— A Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) rescued by a farmer in a forest in Aurora’s San Luis town last week was placed under the custody of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in Quezon City, an official said on Thursday (June 9).

Farmer Eugene Nace found the young eagle trapped in a snare that was used in catching monkey inside the Aurora Memorial National Park on June 1, said Francisco Milla Jr., DENR Central Luzon director.

The bird’s existence confirmed the presence of this critically endangered species in the Sierra Madre mountain range, Fred Sadueste, regional chief of the DENR wildlife enforcement division, said.

Mindanao is known to host Philippine eagles.

Milla said the raptor had to be turned over last June 2 to the BMB for rehabilitation.  It will stay at the BMB until it is healthy to be returned to the forests, according to Milla.

“[The BMB] has the facilities required to care for the eagle properly,” he said.

In April, the National Bureau of Investigation seized seven Palawan pangolins and cobras from a Chinese woman transporting the wildlife via the Clark Freeport north of this Pampanga capital.

These and the Aurora eagle brought to 58 the animals and birds rescued and confiscated by the DENR in Central Luzon since 2011.  SFM/rga