The Philippine Eagle

Over the years, humans have lived with the animals in this planet. However, nowadays, many people have forgotten their role as stewards of the earth, disregarding other living things they are living with in this world. As a matter of fact, a lot of species, animals and plants, already came into extinction. The existing species of animals and plants can also be in the danger of extinction if they are listed as endangered or critically endangered.

According to the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of the Philippines, endangered species are those species whose survival in their natural habitat is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating. On the other hand, critically endangered species refers to species facing extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. In fact, in the Philippines, many animals have been classified and listed as endangered and critically endangered. One of these animals is the Philippine Eagle or the Philippine Monkey-Eating Eagle which is listed as a critically endangered animal.

The Philippines is an abode to a lot of plants and animals and some of the world’s endangered species. One of the Philippine’s pride and the country’s national bird is the Philippine Eagle. The Philippine Eagle with a scientific name of Pithecophaga jefferyi, also known as the monkey-eating eagle is among the tallest, rarest, largest, and most powerful birds in the world. It is also popularly known as the “Haribon” or “Haring Ibon” which means “Bird King.”

In 2008, the Philippine Eagle was listed in the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature or IUCN as critically endangered. It is now one of the most endangered animals in our country. The total wild population of the Philippine eagle is now estimated to be fewer than 200.

The continuous decline in the population of the Philippine Eagle is due to different factors. One cause of the endangerment of our national bird is hunting. Farmers hunt the eagles for food and others shoot them just for fun and recreation. People have been killing eagles for so many years without knowing that their population is not recovering from a high mortality rate. It takes 5 to 7 years for eagles to become sexually mature and capable to reproduce. Sadly, they are hunted before they reach their reproductive age. In fact, just September last year, a two-year old female Philippine Eagle was found dead with a gun bullet in its body in a forest in southern Mindanao, a proof that Philippine Eagles are continued to be hunted and killed.

Another cause for the endangerment of the Philippine Eagle is pollution. The prey of the eagle eats food contaminated with pesticides and toxic heavy metals which accumulate in their bodies over time. When the eagle eats its preys, the pesticides and heavy metals also accumulate in its body. A time will come that the toxic compounds reach a concentration or amount that is already fatal to the bird.

Philippine Eagles are also being captured for collection. Because of its rarity and astounding size, the Philippine eagle has been collected for zoos and private collectors at an expensive price. Some people even steal young eagles straight from their nests for sale to bird collectors.

But the major cause of the decline of the Haribon’s population is their loss of habitat because of deforestation. The thousand hectares of forest that once used by the eagles to hunt for food and grow their young was lost due to intensive logging and slash-and-burn farming. The loss of habitat equals loss of food and starvation for the eagles. It also eliminates the tall trees used to build bests in and raise young.

Code of Ethics:

• ·         Be kind to trees and try to get involved in tree planting in your local conservation program.
• ·         Educate our friends and even our local community about the harmful effects of illegal logging, animal poaching, over reliance to wood products and other environmental issues.
• ·         Support any environmental conservation in your community such as the Philippine Eagle Foundation Inc. here in Davao City. You may give some donations if this will not bother you to support their cause. You may also join them in their information dissemination drive and campaign as well.
• ·         Learn how to appreciate nature and her gifts to mankind and support any environmental campaigns that will help nurture and protect the only planet we live in.
• ·          Support and visit the Philippine Eagle Nature Center in Calinan, Davao City. When visiting any tourism site/protected parks please be responsible with your trashes as much as possible adhere to the rules and regulations of the park even if no one is looking at you.

The Philippine eagle is truly a Filipino pride. This is the reason why they have to be protected and saved from disappearance in our land. If only Philippine eagle could speak, these would be his pleading:

“I have watched forests disappear, rivers dry up, floods ravage the soil, droughts spawn uncontrolled fires, hundreds of my forest friends vanish forever and men leave the land because it was no longer productive. I am witness to the earth becoming arid. I know all life will eventually suffer and die if this onslaught continues. I am a story teller, and I want you to listen before it’s too late.”