THE YOUNG Philippine Eagle rescued in Barangay Manobo in Magpet, North Cotabato province WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA/INQUIRER MINDANAO
MAGPET, North Cotabato—The young Philippine Eagle that was captured by villagers here is safe and healthy.
Edward Lignas (not Eduardo Limsaga as earlier reported), municipal environment officer, said the eaglet, however, still could not fly when the villagers found it. “Its mother flew away,” Lignas said, quoting the villagers.
Lignas also quoted Roy Pelonio, Barangay (village) Manobo village chair, as denying reports that the villagers butchered another eagle.
“The eagle is OK,” said Lignas. “It is not wounded or stressed,” he said.
Pelonio said the eagle was turned over to him on Saturday after it was captured at the foot of the country’s highest peak, Mount Apo—home of the endangered Philippine Eagle.
The young eagle will be turned over to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) based in Davao City.
Late last year, a wounded Philippine Eagle was also captured in Magpet and turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which handed over the endangered bird to the PEF.
The bird, however, died of complications from a disease.
The Philippine Eagle’s numbers have dwindled over the years. It has brown and white plumage and a shaggy crest, and generally measures 0.61 to 0.91 meters in length and weighs 4 to 8 kilograms.
Among the rarest and most powerful birds in the world, it has been declared the Philippine national bird.
According to the PEF, it is critically endangered mainly due to massive loss of habitat due to deforestation.
Killing a Philippine Eagle is punishable by 12 years in jail and heavy fines.
North Cotabato province is home to several endangered species, including the Philippine freshwater crocodiles in the Liguasan Marsh.
A previous report said environment authorities were trying to rescue the captured eagle from residents of Barangay Manobo. Reports from Edwin Fernandez and Williamor Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao