Philippine eagle in the brink of extinction


The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is the largest of all bird of prey in the world.  It can only be found in the Philippines.  This species is a national symbol and was declared as the National Bird of the Philippines.

A juvenile eagle rescued by a farmer inside a Protected Area 
in Aurora Province last June 1 
DENR-Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service

Until now, the "monkey-eating eagle" is critically endangered.  It is still being hunted in the wild. Considered as critically-endangered, the Philippine eagle has a unique way of breeding.  

Once paired, the male and female are forever attached to each other, and will not find another mate if one of them dies.  

That is perhaps the reason why breeding is a lot difficult for these "Noble Flyers".  
Another reason for their dwindling population is the fact that our forests are shrinking.  

These eagles are territorial and would not allow others of its kind, not even their offspring, to live within 13,000 hectares radius.

That is the reason why reforestation is needed if we are to save these eagles from extinction.

While it is prohibited to hunt or capture these birds of prey in the wild, they remain highly at risk because of poor law enforcement.  The country's Protected Areas, an area which is by law a no-take zone is being raided by hunters.  Some of these illegal acts are perpetrated by the people in the communities themselves.  Trapping animals sometimes accidentally catches the rare eagles as they hunt for food.  A snare intended for monkeys have once caught a juvenile eagle set up by hunters within a Protected Area in Aurora Province.  This demonstrate how hard-headed are hunters, if not people in the communities themselves - whoever they are.  

The eagle's natural habitats, the forests, are not safe from destructive human activities like illegal logging, irresponsible nature trip and mountain climbing which have, in the past, triggered disastrous fire such as the recent fire in Mount Apo, home to the Philippine eagle.  The destruction of their habitats are one of the leading cause of habitat loss.

The Philippine government has an on-going program to save the species but these are mainly anchored on the protection of the country's Protected Areas - some of which are known to be their nesting grounds.  

However, there are nests outside Protected Areas that need to be protected, too.

The DENR is looking at declaring them as Critical Habitat for the Philippine eagle to boost its protection against destructive human activities, including hunting for food, trophy or illegal wildlife trade.  

We can helps save the Philippine eagle by supporting the DENR's reforestation program and the campaign against hunting wildlife.