CEBU CITY—A Philippine serpent eagle was turned over to authorities in the City of Naga, southern Cebu.
The serpent eagle was turned over by Tomasa Repollo and Rochelle Denotol, residents of Sitio Suba, Barangay Tuyan, Naga last Monday morning.
Repollo said she found the bird perched on the roof of her house past 4 p.m. Sunday.
The bird had a shoestring tied on its right leg.
Wynser Pañoso, environment management specialist of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), said that Republic Act 9147, or an Act providing for the conservation and protection of wildlife and their habitats, prohibits keeping a serpent eagle as a household pet.
“Because the bird had a shoestring tied in its leg, it was possible that it was being kept by someone, but was able to escape,” said Pañoso.
According to Pañoso, the Philippine serpent eagle is found in the major islands of the Philippines, mostly in Luzon and Mindanao, except Palawan.
Such kind of bird is usually found in forest clearings, open woodlands and sometimes in cultivated lands with scattered trees. It is reportedly listed as “least concern species”, or its population is decreasing, by BirdLife International due to habitat loss.
Pañoso said they were not able to determine the gender of the bird, but it was in good condition when it was turned over.
Pañoso said representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Visayas (DENR 7) were scheduled to check on the bird yesterday.
“The DENR 7 will be taking custody of the bird and it will be up to them when or where to release it,” said Pañoso.