STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur -- There is hope for a puny eagle after it was rescued by a resident here on Monday.
Bernardo "Berny" Apal, 36, of Barangay Sibulan, together with his two companions, rescued a helpless three-year-old Pinsker's hawk-eagle after they found it entangled in tree roots while walking within the system of Hedcor's Sibulan Hydropower Plant A.
Apal said they then rushed to ask help from Hedcor, which quickly responded and contacted the Philippine Eagle Foundation for proper care.
After preliminary observation, the Philippine Eagle Center curator Anna Mae T. Sumaya confirmed its breed as a Pinskers hawk-eagle after it was mistakenly identified as a Philippine Eagle.
She also disclosed that the eagle was unresponsive, scrawny, and its left eye was injured.
"It's good that the eagle was immediately brought here, at least we still have enough time to help it survive unlike some people who only bring it here when it's already in a fatal situation. As much as possible, we want to give immediate care to these helpless birds," Sumaya said.
The community's swift and appropriate response underscored their crucial role in wildlife protection. Furthermore, this validates Hedcor’s Information Education Campaigns (IEC) for its Bagobo-Tagabawa host communities in Sta. Cruz.
The hawk-eagle is presently under the care of veterinarian Dr. Roberto Puentespina Jr. According to him, he will nurse the bird back to health and provide medication on the eagle's left eye in preparation for the bird’s release back to the wild once it is capable.