Pag-asa, the first Philippine eagle born in captivity, turned five last January 15, but the future remains bleak for the other surviving Philippine eagles, TODAY reported in its January 16 issue.
"During the mid-80s, estimates of the eagles' population were placed at a few hundred. Current estimates, however, indicate that Philippine eagles have decreased tremendously," deplored Louie Amongo of the Ecosystems Research and Development and Natural Resources. "With the present rate of deforestation which continuously causes decimation of the eagles' habitat, their numbers are expected to decrease at an unprecedented proportion leading to their total annihilation," he added.
Majority of the remaining birds are believed to be in Mindanao. Eighty-six Philippine eagles have so far been accounted for--19 in captivity and 67 in the wild.
"Of the captive birds, 17 are at the Philippine Eagle Center and two are in the University of the Philippines at Los Baños," informed Dennis Salvador, executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation Inc.
"Five of the Philippine eagles living in the wild are reportedly inhabiting the remaining forests of Aurora and Sierra Madre while 62 are located in the mountains of Mindanao," the report said.
The conservation efforts for the ill-fated raptor were started in 1965 by Jesus Alvarez (who was then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office) and Dioscoro Rabor.
If you have the chance to see a live Philippine
eagle, grab the chance.
This majestic bird, reputed to be the world's second largest
eagle,
may not be around much longer.