Friday, August 29, 2008 Hawk eagle released back to the wild
JUST as Typhoon Lawin started battering the region, an eagle from a rare species was released into the wild Thursday or after two weeks of being adopted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Found at the height of Typhoon Karen two weeks ago, the Philippine hawk eagle was freed into the mountains of Sitio Anteg-in, in Barangay Loakan, Itogon by personnel of the DENR, led by Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management division chief Reynaldo Yawan.
The eagle (Spizaetus philippensis) was found by an employee of the Bureau of Plant Industry on August 11 and was turned over to the DENR.
Weak as it was, the bird was then turned over to Michael Abad, a wildlife farm permitee, who took care of the eagle at the animal Laboratory of the Benguet State University (BSU).
Abad, an exotic bird hobbyist, fed the animal until it gained strength to soar on its own. The bird, he said, was released after it was observed being able to fly and hunt for food on its own.
Said to be on its sub-adult stage, the hawk eagle fed on raw meat during its adoption. The bird is endemic to the country.
Prior to the release of the bird, the wildlife division issued a public advisory on local radio stations and asked residents near the area not to capture or shoot at the eagle or any other exotic bird.
DENR officials said this is not the first time the agency took care and released an eagle back into the wild.
