Philippine Eagle Center welcomes 29th chick

The Philippine Eagle Center has welcomed a 29th chick, thanks to eagle parents Ariela and MVP Matatag.

On Twitter, Monday, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) announced that Chick No. 29 hatched last December 4 at 1:16 p.m. It arrived 25 hours and 13 minutes after it first poked its beak out of the egg.

"This is actually the fastest pip-to-hatch record in our breeding program. This chick couldn't wait to say hello to the world," PEF said.

PEF's Conservation Breeding program started in 1987 and is aimed at helping Philippine eagles produce more of its kind as they become endangered.

We are thrilled to announce the much-awaited hatching of the 29th Philippine eagle chick at the PEC!

Follow us for more updates on this #babypheagle! #chick29 #happyhatchday pic.twitter.com/4Dm0K2scq1

— Philippine Eagle Foundation (@PhilEagleFdn) December 6, 2021

According to PEF's website, the Philippine Eagle is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with an estimated number of only 400 pairs left in the wild.

Welcome to the world, Philippine Eagle Chick No. 29!

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News