The Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Samar turned over the Philippine hawk eagle to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday, April 15, after taking care of it for four months. /ARMY 8ID
MANILA, Philippines– A rare Philippine hawk eagle that was rescued by the Philippine Army in Samar was turned over to the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The eagle was estimated to be five months old when it was found by soldiers conducting assessment in Samar area last November in the aftermath of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) that struck Visayas region.
The troops named the eagle “Murayaw,” a Waray word for “peace.” They took care of it for four months and finally turned him over to DENR last Tuesday, April 15, at the 87th Infantry Battalion in the village of Polangi in Calbiga town. The event was led by Major General Jet Velarmino, Army’s 8ID Commander, and Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Dulunan, commanding officer of the 87IB.
“While our primary mandate is to protect the people from threat groups, we are fully aware of the national government on its environmental conservation programs and as such, we always provide necessary assistance to DENR.
“The handing over of the Philippine Hawk Eagle to DENR that was nursed by the 87IB for four months is a manifestation of our support to the environment conservation program of the government,” Velarmino said in a statement.
Murayaw will be eventually released back into the wild where it belongs, the 8ID said in a statement.
The Philippine hawk eagle is a medium-sized raptor that has been feared close to extinction attributed to deforestation. It is endemic to the forests of the Philippines. It can stand up to 30 inches tall with wingspan twice the length of its body and can weigh up to two kilograms.
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