Wounded hawk-eagle found in Eastern Samar

WITH CARE A soldier attends to the wounded Philippine hawk-eagle on Thursday. —PA 63IB PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY—Soldiers of the 63rd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army turned over a wounded Philippine hawk-eagle to environment officials on Thursday, after it was found in the upland village of Benowangan, Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

The raptor was discovered by a farmer in his farmland, who immediately sought the assistance of troops from the battalion’s Alpha Company stationed in the area, the 63rd IB said in a statement.

The soldiers then coordinated with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Borongan City to facilitate the eagle’s medical treatment and rehabilitation.

The 63rd IB expressed gratitude to the concerned resident for his vigilance and quick action, saying the incident highlights the importance of cooperation between citizens and government institutions in protecting endangered species.

Shared responsibility

The Philippine hawk-eagle is now under the care of Cenro. However, no information was released on how the bird sustained its injuries.

Military officials noted that the turnover also underscores a shared responsibility to safeguard the environment and preserve the country’s natural heritage.

The Philippine hawk-eagle (Nisaetus philippensis), locally known as “banog,” is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Native to tropical moist lowland forests, its population has been declining due to deforestation, hunting and illegal trapping.

Like the Philippine eagle, the hawk-eagle plays a crucial role as a top predator in forest ecosystems, helping maintain ecological balance by controlling prey populations.

Conservation groups stress that protecting these raptors is essential to sustaining the biodiversity of the country’s forests.