PH eagle Lakpue drinking from river in Leyte sign of successful adaptation to wild

A viral video of a Philippine eagle drinking from a river in the forests of Leyte is being hailed as a major conservation milestone, signaling the bird's successful adaptation to life in the wild after spending more than two decades in human care.

According to Kuya Kim Atienza's report on “24 Oras" Friday, the eagle featured in the video shared by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is Lakpue, a bird that has become a symbol of hope for Philippine eagle conservation.

Lakpue was rescued in Sarangani in 2003 when he was just two months old. Because he was too young to survive on his own, he was brought to the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City.

"There are animal keepers who feed them and then there are those who take care of them. They clean their cages and, of course, the regular check-up calls," said PEF Community Education and Public Awareness Officer Annie Marsha Abayan in Filipino.

Lakpue became part of the Philippine Eagle Reintroduction Program after 22 years under the foundation's care. On March 21, 2025, he was transported from Davao to Barangay Kagbana in Burauen, Leyte.

“For six months, Lakpue was placed in an area facing a farm so he could see and get accustomed to his environment, to the weather in Leyte, and his possible locations," she explained.

Once Lakpue completed his veterinary examinations and was fitted with a GPS tracker and radio transmitter, he was released into the forests of Leyte on September 30, 2025.

"When he was released, we found it a bit amusing because even though he was 22 years old, his behavior was that of a juvenile. We really implemented daily post-monitoring to keep a closer watch on him," said Abayan.

"Little by little, he can now freely move around his enclosure. He’s able to leave it, too. It’s a really good sign."

Lakpue is now considered an apex predator in the forests of Leyte.

"He helps balance the forest habitat. He helps control the populations of potential prey. For instance, if the large snakes, which are among their favorite prey, multiply, those are the ones they hunt. So, in short, there is balance in the ecosystem," said Dr. Arvin Diesmos, a herpetologist, in Filipino.

Per Diesmo, Lakpue's successful reintroduction highlights years of collaboration among government agencies, non-government organizations, scientists, and researchers dedicated to conserving the country's critically endangered national bird.

"His journey with the Philippine Eagle Foundation in collaboration with numerous government agencies, NGOs, scientists, and researchers is a very important part of the history of Philippine biodiversity conservation," he said. "There is also our long-term responsibility to ensure that the Philippine eagle continues to exist in our mountain ranges and the wild." —Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News