Philippine serpent eagle rescued again, turned over to DENR office

THE PHILIPPINE serpent eagle was rescued by a resident of the village of Paningayan in Laua-an town, Antique province. The bird had been rescued several times in the past and set free by the municipal government. This time, however, the municipal government decided to just let the Department of Environment and Natural Resources take care of the bird. FLORD NICSON CALAWAG/ INQUIRER VISAYAS

LAUA-AN, Antique—A juvenile Philippine serpent eagle was rescued by a resident of Barangay (village) Paningayan here on Thursday.

The eagle was turned over to the Laua-an municipal government on the same day.

Laua-an Vice Mayor Aser Baladjay said villagers had rescued the same bird many times in the past. The municipal government had freed the bird each time.

This time, however, the municipal government decided to keep the bird and turn it over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Western Visayas.

“We have been very strict in protecting and saving these birds because poachers can easily catch those using air guns or holen (marble) guns. We want the next generation to see how beautiful these birds are in the wild,” Baladjay said.

Philippine serpent eagles (Spilornis holospilus), found in primary and secondary forests, is endemic to the Philippines. The rugged, long mountain ranges of Antique province, where the bird can be found, are the home also of countless flora and fauna including the critically endangered walden’s hornbill (Aceros waldeni) and Negros bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba keayi), and the endangered Visayan hornbill ((Penelopides panini) and Panay Island’s endemic “maradyang” or Panay striped babbler (Stachyris latistriata).

Listed as least concern by BirdLife International, much attention is needed to conserve and protect the species because they are threatened by habitat loss.

The bird is also called the Philippine crested serpent eagle because of spots on its wings and belly.