Magpet Municipal Veterinarian Dr. Mylene P. Reniedo (left) examines the rescued Pinsker’s hawk-eagle in Magpet, Cotabato province before it was released back to the wild on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (DENR photo)
COTABATO CITY — A juvenile Pinsker’s hawk-eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri), rescued by a farmer in Magpet town, Cotabato province, had been freed back to the wild on Wednesday.
In a statement, regional environment officials said the unidentified farmer found the big bird weak in an open-space farmland in Barangay Amabel, Magpet, on Monday, March 14.
Forester Rosie Camiguing, chief of DENR Protected and Wildlife Unit (PAWU), said the raptor was weak and had lost its ability to fly.
The farmer had fed and taken care of the raptor for about a day, enabling it to regain its energy.
Camiguing said the farmer brought the raptor to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Magpet the following day, March 15.
Magpet municipal veterinarian, Dr. Mylene P. Reniedo who checked on the juvenile raptor, said the eagle is healthy and ready to be sent back to its natural habitat.
Pinsker’s hawk-eagle (DENR photo)
She said it measures 63 centimeters in length, 125 centimeters in its wingspan, and weighs 1.2 kilograms.
On Wednesday, the raptor was turned over to the Community and Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Matalam for its immediate release to its natural habitat as it was declared healthy and fit.
Camiguing together with some personnel of CENRO Matalam, led the release back to the wild of the Pinsker’s hawk eagle, also known as the Mindanao hawk-eagle.
According to Camiguing, the adult population of the Pinsker’s hawk-eagle is considered endangered as there are only about 600 to 800 remaining in the wild based on the data of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Reniedo said that whenever a rescued wildlife is found to be healthy and fit upon assessment, it should immediately be released back to the wild to avoid further stress that may cause more harm to the animal.
Magpet is situated at the foot of the country’s highest peak – Mt. Apo, where the Philippine eagle also thrive.
RELATED STORY:
Endangered Philippine Eagle spotted in Mount Apo