Pinsker's hawk-eagle released at Mt. Apo Natural Park

STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur -- Hedcor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower, led Wednesday's release of a Pinsker's hawk-eagle at the Mt. Apo Natural Park.

For more than a month of intensive care, "Mabikker" took the flight to freedom back to the wilds.

The eagle, which was found entangled in tree-roots within the protected area of Sibulan Hydro Plant, was rescued by Bernie Apal, a Bagobo-Tagabawa farmer of Sta. Cruz last September 7. He immediately reported the incident to barangay officials of Sibulan and Hedcor.

"With this action of Bernie Apal, we learn what real partnership is. The fact that the community's immediate action of reporting the incident to us means they trusts us. This means, we are real partners in taking care not just the environment but the biodiversity as a whole," Rene B. Ronquillo, Hedcor president and chief operating officer (COO) said.

Hedcor, after receiving the eagle, immediately brought it to the wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Roberto "Bo" Puentespina Jr.

Puentespina in a separate interview said that Mabikker already gained 300 more grams after 37 days of intensive care.

"Mabikker is now 800 grams, and we made sure that before natin siya i-release physically ready and totally recovered, when Mabikker was found by Apal, it weighs only 500 grams," Puentespina said, adding that before releasing an eagle parameters such as its body conditions were being considered.

Puentespina also said that Mabikker's condition, when found by Apal last month, is in starvation state.

"Mabikker was very weak, dehydrated, left-eye was injured. Probably, the reason is difficulty in hunting, usually common causes of cases like this is gunshot, trapping and starvation," he added.

Apal shared that he is glad to know that Mabikker will finally be back in its home, now healthy and fully recovered.

"I was very happy now that Mabikker will go back to the forest. When I saw the eagle, the first thing that pops up in my mind is to help the eagle. We were also told and well-informed that putting the eagle in captivity without authority is unlawful but more than that the eagle's home is the wild forest it is just right to release them back to where their home is," Apal said in vernacular.

Meanwhile, Hedcor is giving Information Education Campaigns (IEC) to the communities where they operate. Its IEC includes biodiversity orientation, bird show experience, and bird’s habitat restoration, among others.

Pinsker's hawk-eagle is under the threatened and endangered species category.

"Mabikker" is a Bagobo-Tagabawa term for strength and power.

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