Critically endangered Philippine Eagle found killed

Metal fragments were found inside the body of Pamana when the Philippine eagle’s carcass was retrieved last August 16 at the vast Mt. Hamiguitan Range in Davao Oriental.

A rare giant eagle has been shot dead just two months after being released in to the wild.

Pamana was monitored by the PEF since her release on June 12 with a miniature transmitter harnessed in her back.

“Even birds that seemed healthy at the time of recovery or confiscation were found to have airgun pellets in their bodies after undergoing X-ray examinations”. “Needing support for stronger law enforcement in protecting wildlife & natl heritage.‪#‎PaalamPamana‬”, said the Philippine Eagle Foundation on Facebook.

“Unfortunately, there’s this man with a gun who thinks that apparently, he can shoot anything and did this”, Salvador said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel. “It is unfortunate that despite increased awareness and intensive information campaign, we continue to encounter such loss of magnificent and valuable wildlife”, said Biodiversity Management Bureau chief Theresa Mundita Lim in a text message to Rappler.

The death of a Philippine eagle (scientific name Pithecophaga jefferyi) in Mount Hamiguitan comes as a shock because it is one of the country’s protected areas. PEF veterinarian Dr. Ana Lascano said that the bird “suffered from gun shot wound leading to possible trauma”. Part of these funds go to forest guards in charge of, among other things, ensuring poaching does not happen within the park.

The Swiss-based worldwide Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the species as “critically endangered”, due to the depletion of its tropical rainforest habitat and hunting.

The Philippine eagle is one of the largest in the world and can grow up 3.3 feet long.

It was the 30th to be found dead or wounded out of an estimated population of just 400 pairs in the wild, which reside mainly on the large southern island of Mindanao, its executive director Joseph Salvador said.