DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Eagle Foundation has urged the government to implement stringent measures for the protection of the critically endangered Philippine Eagle following the death of another injured raptor hours after the bird was rescued in Compostela town in Davao de Oro on July 8.
PEF senior animal keeper Dominic Tadena checks the injured eagle in Compostela, Davao de Oro. (PEF)
An incident report released by the PEF stated that the eagle died due to severe blood loss after it sustained an injury allegedly due to air gun shooting using a customized "jolen gun."
"The primary cause of death was severe blood loss from the fractured wing. The results also indicated a high likelihood of sepsis from the wounds," the PEF said.
Like in previous incidents, jolen guns have been noted as among the commonly used weapon in shooting eagles.
"I felt so heartbroken learning about another shooting incident," said Dr. Jayson Ibañez, PEF director for operations.
"But what makes it even more heart-breaking is the fact that despite all the things we've done to popularize the value of eagle conservation and prevent violent eagle crimes, the persecution continues, " Ibañez added.
This incident was the 20th case of eagle rescue since 2020, according to the PEF. "A rate of five eagles per year, which remains high," said Ibanez.
Rescue in Mangayon
According to the PEF, they learned about the injured eagle through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Davao de Oro that said there was an injured eagle in the custody of soldiers based in Barangay Mangayon in Compostela.
The PEF disclosed that the soldiers, who were on a foot patrol, discovered the weak eagle on the ground with an apparent wound on the left wing.
It added that local Indigenous Peoples assisted the soldiers in transporting the eagle to the nearby Army outpost and eventually sought assistance from the PENRO.
A team from PEF arrived in Compostela to retrieve the eagle and transported the raptor back to this city for treatment at Doc Bayani's Animal Wellness Clinic.
INJURED eagle undergoes X-ray procedure in Davao City. (PEF)
"The eagle was already lethargic on our way back to Davao," recalled Rowell Taraya, PEF senior biologist, who joined the team to retrieve the eagle.
Following the series of tests at the clinic, the PEF said that "the X-rays showed no evidence of lead or metal bullets penetrating the eagle's body. However, the trauma observed in the eagle wings strongly suggests that the eagle was shot, possibly with a powerful improvised gun such as a jolen gun."
Unfortunately, the eagle, named Mangayon, died while undergoing treatment at 9:49 p.m. the same day. The male eagle was said to be about three- to four-years-old.
The shooting of the eagle came 10 days after a pair was released in the forests of Burauen, Leyte to repopulate the area.
According to PEF, the eagles' population may have been wiped out following the onslaught of typhoon “Yolanda” in Eastern Visayas in 2013.
Law enforcement is needed
Ibañez admitted that the PEF can only do so much as a non-government organization.
The PEF has been urging local government units to pass local laws that would regulate the possession of air guns in known eagle territories.
"We can only do so many awareness campaigns, but unless the environmental and social factors that contribute to eagle (wildife) crimes are seriously, intentionally, and scientifically implemented, there is no end in sight yet for shooting, for eagle persecution," the seasoned conservationist said. "And law enforcement is a very important component of that formula."
Ibañez suggested that national and local government units should be involved in implementing measures to protect the national bird.
"The NGO sector can only do so much but the governments have the legal and operational mandate to lead and provide additional financing to a systematic and nationwide species survival. Campaign before it's too late for our national bird," he appealed.