WOUNDED This young Brahminy kite, which is wounded in its right wing, is rescued by residents at Barangay Bantuanon, Lantapan, Bukidnon, onMay 1. —PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY VON DARYLLE MIASCO
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The town of Lantapan in Bukidnon province has intensified forest protection within its part of the Mt. Kitanglad range after the recent rescue of a wounded Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) by residents in the area.
Mayor Ernie Devibar of Lantapan said he ordered town volunteers to conduct regular patrols in the area following the rescue of the wild bird.
Three villagers were fishing at the Manupali River in the village of Bantuanon on May 1 when they noticed the bird trapped in a bamboo grove, unable to fly, according to villager Von Darylle Miasco, a resident of Purok 5.
“Its right wing was wounded by its own talon. It appeared to have wounded itself and it could no longer fly. My neighbors brought it home so it could be turned over to the authorities,” Miasco said in an online interview after his three neighbors—Lilambet Rosas, John Mark Rosas and Edemor Carnaje—rescued the bird.
At first, they thought the rescued bird was a Philippine eagle until Jayson Ibanez, Philippine Eagle Foundation director for research and conservation based in Davao City, identified it as another bird of prey called the Brahminy kite.
“It’s a juvenile Brahminy kite. If healthy and without injury, I hope they can release it immediately,” Ibanez said in an online interview.
Let it rest
No one could determine yet the age and origin of the bird as it was turned over to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, which, in turn, handed it over to Valencia City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Devibar said the presence of the wild bird prompted the town to intensify its forest surveillance and the protection of its wildlife in the area.
At present, Lantapan has 86 forest guards monitoring seven villages within the Mt. Kitanglad range, Devibar said.
“We are strict in our forest protection. We don’t allow slash-and-burn farming and illegal logging. Even our rivers have been rehabilitated,” the mayor said.
Ibanez said that those taking care of the wounded bird were advised to let it rest and feed it with sliced fresh meat and water.
“Of course, it is ideal that it be checked by a veterinarian but if it can manage to eat and rest overnight, they can attempt to release it in the morning and see if it flies off,” he added.