Wounded Philippine eagle, believed on the road to recovery, dies

The first Philippine eagle to be seen in Samar in more than a century has died.

Calbido, a wounded Philippine monkey-eating eagle rescued in the province in June, succumbed on Aug. 12, Department of Environment and Natural Resources officials said.

Calbido was a Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), one of the rarest and strongest birds in the world. It was estimated that he was not quite three years old when he died in his cage at the DENR regional office at around 4 p.m. last Friday.

DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) Director Mundita Lim said it was possible the eagle died from complications arising from an operation to remove a shotgun pellet embedded in his breast.

She noted the eagle was suffering from multiple fungal and bacterial infections. A necropsy was scheduled on Calbido today to determine the exact cause of death.

The eagle’s death came as a shock to wildlife officials. A source in the DENR regional office, who asked not to be identified due to lack of authority to speak to the media, said Calbido was hopping around and eating well days earlier.

“We thought he was on his way to recovery,” the source said.

Lim said Calbido ate a whole rabbit early last week, when a veterinarian from Manila came to visit.

But two days before he died, PAWB officials said Calbido began to weaken and looked lethargic.

“He had no appetite, he stopped going to his perch, which was a bad sign. Birds are not supposed to be on the ground. Then his wings drooped and he just fell over,” the source said.

The eagle was found on the ground on June 23 by officials of the mountain village of Buluan, Calbido, Samar.

The last time a Philippine eagle was seen in Samar was in 1896, the year the species was identified.