Endangered Philippine Eagle hatched in captivity

A Philippine eagle chick has been hatched in captivity, conservationists said Thursday, boosting the critically-endangered species' fight against extinction.

The chick, hatched at a conservation centre in the southern province of Davao on December 7, was the first in two years and the 26th in 23 years, Philippine Eagle Foundation curator Anna Mae Sumaya said.

"This gives us hope that we can somehow supplement the Philippine eagle population," Sumaya told AFP.

There are about 600 Philippine eagles in the wild and 34 others, including the hatchling, are kept in a massive cage at the centre.

The Swiss-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists the species as "critically endangered", due to hunting and the depletion of its tropical rainforest habitat.

Gunshots account for nine in every 10 Philippine eagle casualties according to the foundation.

Killing critically endangered Philippine species is punishable by up to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to one million pesos ($21,177).

The monogamous eagles breed only once a year, with each pair producing only one egg every mating season.

There are four breeding pairs in the conservation centre. Two other eggs laid during this year's mating season were infertile and did not hatch, Sumaya said. — Agence France-Presse