DENR suspends release of Philippine eagles after Pamana's death

No more captive Philippine eagles will be released into the wild until the killer of Philippine eagle "Pamana" is caught and their natural habitat is safe, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Sunday.

 

“Until such time na ma-secure natin ang area at wala na nang threats, at mayroon nang mas mataas na appreciation ng Philippine eagle ang ating mga kababayan, [wala munang pakakawalan],” DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau chief Theresa Mundita Lim  dzBB radio in an interview.

"Gusto nating mahuli ang sinumang responsable sa nangyari dahil ayaw nating gagala-gala pa kung sino man yung namaril bago tayo magpakawala ulit ng Philippine eagle at iba pang uri ng wildlife species," she also said.

 

Pamana was found dead with a gunshot wound in the chest at the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental province on Aug. 16.

 

The endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) was released into the wild on Independence Day, June 12, after fully recovering from the two gunshot wounds it sustained as an eaglet in 2012.

 

A bounty of P200,000 has been offered by the DENR and concerned groups and individuals for information leading to the arrest of Pamana's killer.

 

Lim said authorities have obtained leads about Pamana's possible killer although she refused to divulge them, citing the ongoing investigation into the incident.

 

To prevent the recurrence of similar shootings in the future, Lim said the DENR is exploring the possibility of asking the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to restrict the ownership and use of any guns within protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries such as those found in Mt. Hamiguitan.

 

While admitting the DENR does not have enough forest rangers to guard the 16,923-hectare wildlife sanctuary, Lim said the public's cooperation is also important to ensure the protection of endangered species living in Mt. Hamiguitan.

 

“Hindi naman talaga kaya ng DENR lang ang pangangalaga sa mga protected areas kaya mayroong Protected Area Management Board para mag-pool ng resources para mapangalagaan ang isang area. Kasama na doon ang pag-set up ng social buffer tulad ng mga information campaigns para maging bahagi ang community sa pangagalaga ng area,” she said.

 

She said the Protected Area Management Board managing the Mt. Hamiguitan wildlife sanctuary will also be convened soon to create new policies for the protection of flora and fauna in the mountain. — Xianne Arcangel/JDS, GMA News