Endangered eagle called Pamana shot dead two months after release

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has called for a probe on the killing of Philippine eagle “Pamana”, whose death sparked public outrage.

“That was the sentiment of all grieving and angry bird lovers who went to the PEF centre in Malagos, Davao when Pamana was brought there”, said Salvador.

After two years of rehabilitation, it was released into the wild, only to be found shot dead.

Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje told the state-run Philippine News Agency on Thursday that the entire department was distraught over the fate of a female eagle named “Pamana”, describing the killing as a setback to government efforts to protect the raptor.

The Swiss-based Worldwide Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the species as “critically endangered”, because of the depletion of its tropical rainforest habitat and searching.

PEF biologists and forest guards discovered Pamana’s carcass in early stage of decomposition last Sunday at MHRWS, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site. He appealed to the residents of Barangays Lanca, Luban and Cabuaya in the Mt. Hamiguitan range to cooperate with investigators and relay information on people who might own airguns in their area.

“Worse, the Aquino government continues to allow logging and mining concessions in the area”, he claimed.

“In Panalipdan’s report, Philyoubang’s operations have damaged second growth trees and other vegetation in Sitio Sopsopon, Brgy”.

He said a number of laws on wildlife protection have been neglected: Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9303 or the Mt. Hamiguitan Range and Wildlife Sanctuary Act, R.A. 9512 or the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act, and R.A. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

The three-year-old eagle was found dead in a forest in the south of the country, close to where she had been released, the BBC reported. We need a strong law-enforcement program in place, especially in protected areas.

There are only around 400 pairs of the bird thought to be left, and the foundation said it had only released this eagle back into the wild to breed on 12 June, on Philippine Independence Day.