In a bid to save the endemic but endangered Philippine Eagle from extinction, local conservationists are looking at sending mating pairs overseas. By Henrylito D. Tacio

Manilla, October 2019. The Philippine eagle (scientific name: Pithecophaga jefferyi) is one of the world’s largest, most powerful birds of prey. Also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle and the great Philippine eagle, it is second only to the Madagascar Sea eagle in rarity. In size, it handily beats the American bald eagle and is the world’s second largest with a wing span of two metres and a body length of one metre, just behind the massive Harpy eagle of Central and South America.

Sadly, the Philippine eagle is listed as endangered, and close to extinction – but local environmentalists are fighting hard to keep the population viable. Today, only about 400 pairs survive in the wild. Most of them can be found in the forests of Mount Apo and other parts of Mindanao island. Others have been sighted over in forests of Sierra Madre in Luzon and Samar and Leyte in the Visayas, but very rarely.

Only about 400 pairs of the Philippine eagle survive in the wild. Most of them can be found in the forests of Mount Apo and other parts of Mindanao island. That’s why the Philippine Eagle Foundation is looking for help outside. Courtesy Henry Tacio.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List included the Philippine eagle in its “critically endangered” raptor. In 2012, it joined a list of 17 critically-endangered birds in the Philippines, along with the Philippine Cockatoo, Rufous-headed Hornbill, and Sulu Bleeding Heart. Luckily, the conservationists have a backup plan for the birds.

In June 2019, two birds – a 15-year-old male named Geothermica and a 17-year female named Sambisig – were delivered to the world famous Jurong Bird Park in Singapore. "This (move) serves as an insurance policy for our eagles,” said Dennis Salvador, executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF). “If something bad happens to their population in the Philippines, we still have a gene pool outside the country that we can rely on to continue propagating them in captivity," he said.

There are also planned moves to send another pair to the US, says the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Philippine Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said his department may expand the deployment of the birds to the United States as well as Singapore. DENR said one US bird reserve “has signified interest in looking after a pair of Philippine Eagles to help conserve the species,” according to recent news reports.

“Sending Geothermica and Sambisig to Singapore is (already) a historical milestone and a tangible indication that the international community is needed in the protection and conservation of the Philippine eagle,” added Cimatu.

Currently, just the two Philippine eagles are living at Jurong Bird Park. “But with millions of tourists flocking to Jurong, we are bringing the eagles closer to the international community in the hopes of encouraging international attention and support for their conservation,” said Cimatu.

Another reason for sending eagles abroad is to serve as “a biosecurity measure to ensure the survival of the species as a fallback population in the event of catastrophic events like disease outbreaks or extreme natural calamities taking place in their Philippine habitats,” noted Cimatu.

Watch a rare footage of a Philippine eaglet change its downy appearance to a striking mane, and learning to fly.

Deputy CEO Dr Cheng Wen-Haur of Jurong Park operator Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) said: "Once they get used to each other, and we can see a close relationship forming, we will put them together to allow for the next phase." Cheng said an avian care team at Jurong Bird Park will focus on efforts to get the two eagles to breed, to expand the number of viable breeding birds.

Salvador pointed out that that “loan program” inked with Singapore only represents a small part of a comprehensive population management plan being implemented to help manage the endangered species. “Given current threats, more intensive action on protection and law enforcement need to take place in-country too,” he said.

As well as habitat destruction and hunting, some conservationists are pointing the finger at climate change as another threat to the massive raptor. “Rapid climate change also directly affects the survival rate of the remaining Philippine eagles,” say activists at Haribon, another conservation organization. “It severely strikes avifaunal diversity in the Philippines, where almost 30% of bird species are endemic.”

There are glimmers of hope, however. At its Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos in Calinan District – about one-half and a hour ride from the heart of Davao City – programs to help the birds survive include field research, community-based initiatives, captive breeding and conservation education. “These programs are integrated and permit a holistic approach to conservation and management of biological diversity,” says Carla Joy E. Salvacion, the conservation education administrator.

The work goes on, as numbers just about hold steady. “By using the Philippine eagle as the flagship for conservation, we try to address a host of issues associated with the conservation and management of wildlife in the Philippine rainforest,” said Salvador.

It’s a long-term strategy, but one that will hopefully work for Pithecophaga jefferyi.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List included the Philippine eagle in its “critically endangered” raptor. In 2012, it joined a list of 17 critically-endangered birds in the Philippines, along with the Philippine Cockatoo, Rufous-headed Hornbill, and Sulu Bleeding Heart. Luckily, the conservationists have a backup plan for the birds.

In June, two birds – a 15-year-old male named Geothermica and a 17-year female named Sambisig – were delivered to the world famous Jurong Bird Park in Singapore. "This (move) serves as an insurance policy for our eagles,” said Dennis Salvador, executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF). “If something bad happens to their population in the Philippines, we still have a gene pool outside the country that we can rely on to continue propagating them in captivity," he said.