A bullet-ridden Philippine Eagle was found in Trento town, Agusan Del Sur early this week, a conservation group said on Thursday.
Richard Bautista, communication officer of Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), said the badly injured endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyii) was discovered by farmer Nenito Tabana in Pangan village on September 21.
Tabana, he said, immediately endorsed the eagle to Trento Mayor Irenea Hitgano, who turned it over to the staff of PEF who arrived the following day.
Bautista said the initial assessment was that the eagle has a “slim chance of survival” but the team of veterinary experts at the PEF conservation and rehabilitation center in Malagos district here are not about to give up.
The gender of the eagle has yet to be known; it is also believed to be around 9 years old.
An x-ray examination revealed that the eagle now named as Pangyan (derived from the village) has two gun pellets embedded inside its body, an inch deep from the shoulders.
Bautista said its two legs were also badly fractured and it is still unable to open its right eye.
When it was endorsed to the foundation, Bautista said the eagle’s legs were wrapped with electrical tape plastered on some leaves.
He said it meant that there was attempt to cure it.
“When we retrieved the eagle, it was passive, which means that it had been in contact with humans for some time already. Normally these wild birds are aggressive,” Bautista said.
He said the team of scientists working on the treatment also believes that the bird has a mate.
As to who may have shot the bird and caused its injury, the PEF and DENR authorities are still investigating, Bautista said.
Under Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, persons harming Philippine Eagles could be imprisoned for 12 years.
Richard Bautista, communication officer of Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), said the badly injured endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyii) was discovered by farmer Nenito Tabana in Pangan village on September 21.
Tabana, he said, immediately endorsed the eagle to Trento Mayor Irenea Hitgano, who turned it over to the staff of PEF who arrived the following day.
Bautista said the initial assessment was that the eagle has a “slim chance of survival” but the team of veterinary experts at the PEF conservation and rehabilitation center in Malagos district here are not about to give up.
The gender of the eagle has yet to be known; it is also believed to be around 9 years old.
An x-ray examination revealed that the eagle now named as Pangyan (derived from the village) has two gun pellets embedded inside its body, an inch deep from the shoulders.
Bautista said its two legs were also badly fractured and it is still unable to open its right eye.
When it was endorsed to the foundation, Bautista said the eagle’s legs were wrapped with electrical tape plastered on some leaves.
He said it meant that there was attempt to cure it.
“When we retrieved the eagle, it was passive, which means that it had been in contact with humans for some time already. Normally these wild birds are aggressive,” Bautista said.
He said the team of scientists working on the treatment also believes that the bird has a mate.
As to who may have shot the bird and caused its injury, the PEF and DENR authorities are still investigating, Bautista said.
Under Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, persons harming Philippine Eagles could be imprisoned for 12 years.
0 Comments
Post a Comment