Leyte village eyed as release site for Philippine Eagle

BACK TO THE WILD Onlookers take snapshots of Philippine Eagle Rajah Cabungso-an as he is released back to the wild at Barangay Kabungsuan in Lingig, Surigao del Sur, in November 2021 after over seven months of rehabilitation. Soon, the village of Kagbana in Burauen, Leyte, will become the next release site for the national bird. —ERWIN M. MASCARIÑAS

BURAUEN, LEYTE—Expect Philippine Eagles to make this town their home soon.

The upland village of Kagbana in Burauen, Leyte, is being eyed as the future release site for the rare Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jeferryi) through a project supported by the Australian government and the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

During her visit on Thursday, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu said her government had been supporting activities of the PEF to prepare the community for the national bird’s reintroduction.

Hae also led the planting of 100 seedlings of local varieties at the Eastern Visayas State University where a proposed arboretum is located.

She said they were expecting the “majestic” Philippine Eagles to fly in the skies of Burauen again soon, especially with the presence of an arboretum, a botanical garden devoted to trees and shrubs.

There were sightings of Philippine Eagles in the mountains and forests of Burauen before Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) devastated the province and several parts of Eastern Visayas in 2013.

The establishment of the arboretum in the town is seen to encourage the return of the Philippine Eagle not only in Burauen but the rest of Leyte, said Jayson Ibañez, director for research and conservation of PEF.

He said they would release eaglets to the forests of Burauen, particularly in Barangay Kagbana, the farthest village of the town.

Community support

Hae said she was happy that the Australian government would be part of the effort for the return of the Philippine Eagle in Leyte.

“I reckon the moment to watch the beautiful Philippine Eagle fly into the skies of this beautiful town,” she said.

READ: Stronger international effort needed to save Philippine Eagle – PEF

Rogelio Gloria, barangay chair of Kagbana, said they were thankful that their community was chosen by PEF as a release site.

“Before there were sightings of Philippine Eagles in our forests though we sometimes see some birds that resemble … the eagle,” he said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said there were sightings of the Philippine Eagle in Eastern Visayas, particularly in Maslog town, a small and remote town in Eastern Samar.

Hae said Burauen was chosen as the site for the release of the eaglets since the community and their leaders supported the endeavor as stewards of the forests.

She said the multiyear project was part of their government’s annual $19-million assistance to the Philippines in relation to the fight against climate change, disaster resiliency management and response and environment protection.