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Critically endangered Philippine eagle rescued in Zamboanga del Norte
A Philippine Eagle was rescued and turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region IX thru the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte on Thursday.
The eagle with scientific name Pithecophaga jefferyi was rescued at Barangay Bulacan in Siocon by Barangay Chairman Romeo G. Dumencil and Nito Bitogwas.
According to the CENRO report, Bitogwas found the eagle trapped in the grassland of the barangay.
He immediately rescued it and reported the find to Dumencil, who accompanied him to CENRO Siocon despite the fact that the municipality is under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Based on the initial assessment by the Eagle Watch Team of CENRO Siocon, the bird showed no signs of injury and is considered to be in good condition.
The eagle weighs around 3.5 kilos and is placed in an improvised cage for further observation and health assessment before its release back to the wild.
DENR IX Regional Executive Director Crisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez expressed her gratitude to Dumencil and Bitogwas for rescuing the Philippine Eagle and turning it over to CENRO Siocon.
She added that the Department is appreciative of their effort and in giving their time in rescuing the bird despite being busy in attending to their constituents in this time of the pandemic COVID-19 crisis.
Rodriguez also said that there is still the threat of the Avian Influenza or bird flu and cautioned the public not to approach, handle, capture or kill wild birds particularly migratory birds as they are known carriers of the disease.
The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Philippine Eagles as Critically Endangered having only an estimated 400 pairs in the wild.
Despite the ECQ due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), DENR IX continues to conduct information, education, and communication campaign to combat the violation of Republic Act No. 9147 otherwise known as “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act” and other illegal environmental activities under its area of jurisdiction. -- BAP, GMA News
