More measures to be crafted after death of ‘translocated’ eagle in Leyte

NEW HOME In this June 28 photo, the Philippine eagle named “Uswag” is seen flying in the forest of Burauen, Leyte, after he and a female raptor named “Carlito” are released in their new habitat. —PHILIPPINE EAGLE FOUNDATION PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY — Authorities are crafting measures to prevent the death of other translocated Philippine eagles (Pithecophaga jefferyi) in the forests of Leyte.

The death of “Uswag” served as a lesson to ensure that the eagles released to a new habitat are safe, said Fr. Calvin Bugho, media coordinator of the Rotary Club of Central Tacloban.

READ: ‘Uswag,’ PH eagle, strays from Leyte forests, drowns off Cebu

The group, he said, was closely coordinating with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF)  to find ways to help eagles adapt to a new environment.

“One of the measures we agreed upon is to mobilize coastal communities to report to authorities if they see a raptor in the sea,” Bugho said in an interview on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Dr. Jay Ibañez, PEF director for operations, said Uswag, a 3-year-old male eagle, was last monitored on July 30.

This prompted a search operation that led to the discovery of its carcass in the waters off Baybay City the next day.

Due to water currents, the carcass was recovered on Aug. 3 on the coast of Pilar town, Camotes Island, Cebu.

Ibañez said daily monitoring of the eagles was conducted, but bad weather hampered efforts as the global positioning device attached to the eagle was solar-powered.

The PEF will study measures to prevent similar incidents, including examining wind and weather patterns and topography, given that these eagles originated from Mindanao.

READ: Philippine Eagle pair set free in forests of Leyte

“Uswag” and another eagle “Carlito” were freed on June 28 at the Anonang-Lobi mountain range in Barangay Kagbana, about 40 km from the Birauen town proper.

Uswag, a Waray term for welcome, was a male eagle rescued in 2023 from Mt. Apo in Davao City. It weighed 5.3 kilograms and was 3 years old.

Carlito, on the other hand, is a 5-year-old female eagle, weighs 5.8 kgs, and was rescued from Trento, Agusan del Sur.

The PEF said the translocation of these eagles to Leyte was part of their program to have these “majestic birds” flying in the skies of the province and ensure their safety from shooting, trapping, clubbing, poaching, and selling at their Mindanao habitats.

Bugho said four more eagles were to be released in the forests of Burauen next year as part of a program by the PEF in collaboration with the Australian government to repopulate Leyte and the rest of Eastern Visayas with the majestic bird.

Carmela Corazon Crebillo, municipal tourism officer and information officer of Burauen, said Uswag’s death shocked them.

The PEF will coordinate with the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regarding the preservation of Uswag’s carcass.

One option is to preserve it for educational purposes.

READ: Foundation releases 2 Philippine eagles in Leyte