PH eaglet Riley passes away

Riley, a Philippine eaglet that hatched in January, has crossed the rainbow bridge, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said on Wednesday. 

It’s exactly three months since the eaglet was hatched on January 16 at the National Bird Breeding Sanctuary in Davao City

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Riley, one of the Philippine eagles under our care at the Philippine Eagle Foundation. Though the eaglet's time with us was short, Riley captured hearts and inspired hope—becoming a powerful symbol for his species’ conservation from hatch day to every milestone along the way,” the PEF said in a statement. 

“We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated animal keepers, veterinarians, and support staff who gave Riley the utmost care throughout his life,” it added. 

The PEF also said that a full necropsy is being conducted to find out the reason for the eaglet’s death. 

Riley’s hatching is said to be “the first-ever documented unassisted natural hatching.” 

The Philippine eagle (or the Monkey-eating eagle), which is also the national bird of the country,  is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with only about 400 pairs remaining in the wild. —LDF, GMA Integrated News