Diminishing forests aggravated by the threats of disasters and climate change continues to threaten the survival of the rare and endangered Philippine Eagle and other wildlife species in the country, according to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).
While the natural ecosystem continues to be threatened, more comprehensive programs such as reforestation of remaining forests and denuded watershed, mangrove planting and protection of natural heritage parks should be vigorously undertaken, said PAWB Assistant Director Nelson Devanadera.
“Stopping deforestation and forest degeneration are more urgent so we could conserve wildlife and endangered species such as the Philippine Eagle. It should also be noted that hunting of these rare birds and other threatened species is a criminal offense under the wildlife law,” Devanadera said, saying that wildlife-conservation efforts have been implemented throughout the country.
Considered among the largest eagles in the world, the Philippine Eagle is usually found in the Sierra Madre and Cordillera mountain ranges in Luzon, and in forested areas of Mindanao.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has categorized the Philippine Eagle as critically endangered. The continued destruction of its natural forest habitat threatens its survival in the wild.
According to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), a non-profit organization that serves as a research and breeding facility of the Philippine Eagle in Davao City, indiscriminate hunting, logging, expanding agriculture and mining are major causes of the species’ dwindling population.
Roli Pinsoy, Communication Officer of the PEF, said that at present, there are only 400 pairs or 800 birds, of Philippine Eagle remaining in the wild. There are only 35 eagles at the PEF eagle center in Malagos in Davao. He said that since the 1970s, the center has admitted 69 eagles, most of them rescued or turned over to the center.
Pinsoy said the PEF needs to raise at least P20 million to sustain its operation. He said at least P150,000 a year is needed for the upkeep of each rare eagle in the center which includes food, medicine and maintenance of its aviary. He said the PEF hopes to save the Philippine Eagle from extinction through its conservation and education awareness programs. Its Adopt-An-Eagle program encourages any individual or company to adopt an eagle by donating P125,000 per year to the center for the rehabilitation and medicine needs of the adopted eagle.
“We have existing projects with the government through the environment department on the research and conservation program for the Philippine Eagle. We also have to sustain partnership with other organizations so we could sustain our advocacy in saving these endangered species,” Pinsoy said.
The Philippines is home to about 170,000 faunal species, most of which are insects and are mostly unidentified, according to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Twelve thousand plant species and 960 animal species are found in Philippine forests. Of the identified animal species, over 500 are birds and 167 are mammals (98 of which are endemic to the country). In recent years, experts have discovered 12 mammal species in the country seen nowhere else on the planet.
Apart from its fauna, the Philippines also boasts of 12,000 species of plants, with more than 8,000 flowering plants. The rest are ferns, fern allies, mosses, hepatics, liverworts, fungi and algae. Of this number, 3,500 are endemic to the country and are not found elsewhere. Sadly, most of these endemic plants are also on the brink of extinction.
By IMELDA V. ABANO
Photo courtesy of Lafeber Conservation and Wildlife.
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