THE Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte has taken into custody a South Philippine Hawk Eagle for rehab and eventual release into the wild.
Rosevirico Tan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional information officer, said Tuesday, March 23, that the eagle, also known as Pinsker Hwak-eagle or Mindanao eagle, was retrieved by Cenro-Liloy headed by Dionisio Rago on March 19 in Poblacion village, Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte.
Tan said Maria Flor Amplayo told the Cenro officials that her son went to Pitogo village in Gutalac town and saw the children feeding the bird and told them to surrender it to DENR.
The children turned it over to Amplayo’s son, who eventually reported to DENR-Zamboanga Peninsula official social media page for proper disposition, knowing it was an endangered species based on a YouTube video he saw.
Tan said that further inquiries revealed that the raptor was retrieved by the children at the forested area of Kipit village, Labason, Zamboanga del Norte and brought it home.
Tan said the raptor was estimated to be five months old, weighs 500 grams, and has a wingspan of 34 inches and 14 inches in height.
He said the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the South Philippine Hawk eagle as endangered because it is threatened by habitat loss.
He said the raptor will be released back to the wild once it is fully rehabilitated and declared fit. (SunStar Zamboanga)