Philippine eagle 'Riley' hatches at Davao sanctuary

A Philippine eagle recently hatched at the National Bird Breeding Sanctuary in Davao City, boosting efforts to save the critically endangered species.

An offspring of Philippine eagles, ''Sinag'' and ''Dakila,'' Riley, or “Chick No. 31,” hatched on January 16, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said on Tuesday.

The PEF said Riley’s hatching marks a “groundbreaking” achievement.

“Riley’s hatching is the first-ever documented unassisted natural hatching, a true testament to the resilience and strength of our #pefat38 conservation efforts,” the PEF said in a Facebook post.

The eaglet will be transferred to a bigger nest on Wednesday, February 19, ''to accommodate her growing size,'' it added.

"Riley’s arrival is a symbol of hope and a reminder of the importance of unity in protecting our natural heritage," the PEF said.

The Philippine eagle is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with only about 400 pairs remaining in the wild. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/VBL, GMA Integrated News