PH EAGLE WEEK. The Philippine Eagle Foundation eyes to move the eagles in its sanctuary to a more secure location amid threats of avian flu. PEF official Andi Baldonado on Monday (May 30, 2022) says the move would be costly but hopes they can gain sponsors during the Philippine Eagle Week next month. (Screengrab)
DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is contemplating on moving its endangered eagles from its sanctuary to a more secure location amid fears of avian influenza (AI) or bird flu.
"All it takes is a single case of this fatal virus in the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) and the only captive breeding stock of the species in the world will be wiped out," PEF Development Manager Andi Baldonado said during a press briefing here Monday.
Baldonado cited the AI outbreak in the neighboring town of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, last month, which is close to the PEC facility in Malagos district.
"It is a mere 90 kilometers southwest of the PEC. It brings the threat right at our doorstep and puts at risk all 34 eagles in the PEC of being decimated,” she said.
“That is losing 5 percent of the total estimated global population of this already critically endangered bird," she added.
However, Baldonado admitted that moving the eagles to a more secure and viable location for breeding would be costly.
"This plan is costly and requires participation from both government and private sectors to implement. This Philippine Eagle Week (PEW), we aim to generate support for this endeavor," she said.
This June 4 to 13, the PEF, along with SM Lanang Premier, Boysen Paints Philippines, and San Roque Power Corporation will celebrate “#AgiLaya: Lasting Freedom for the Philippine Eagle.”
The event coincides with the PEF's 35th anniversary.
Highlights of the event include an exhibit from June 5 to 12 featuring Philippine eagle conservation milestones at SM Lanang Premier Atrium.
From the taxidermy specimen of the late Pag-asa to gears for forest patrolling, the exhibit aims to give a glimpse of the significant strides in eagle conservation. (PNA)
