Another Philippine Eagle chick hatched in captivity

Baby Eagle 27. Photo: Philippine Eagle Foundation

Another Philippine Eagle chick has hatched in captivity, the Philippine Eagle Foundation accounced (PEF).

In a statement, PEF said that the eaglet hatched on February 4 under the Conservation Breeding program. It is the second offspring of MVP (male) and Go Phoenix (female) since they became partners in 2013.

“The newly paired eagles, MVP and Go Phoenix, have been remarkably successful at producing two fertile eggs this breeding season,” PEF curator Anna Mae Sumaya said.

The new eaglet hatched after 57 days of incubation. It was able to hatch full-term on its own without any assistance. According to the foundation, it is the 27th eaglet it has hatched in captivitiy since it began its breeding program in 1987.

Sumaya also said that the chick “is active and alert as it can already lift its head, sit, and follow objects even at a day old.”

The newly hatched chick is the sibling of Sinag, the eaglet that Philippine Airlines adopted after it hatched on December 7, 2015.

“The second hatching is an unexpected success. Hopefully this will continue along with the other pairs that we have at the Center,” Sumaya said.

The recent hatchings come months after the killing of Pamana, a rescued Philippine eagle that was shot not long after it had been released back into the wild.

Meanwhile, PEF executive director Dennis Salvador expressed that the Center will soon need more space to house more incoming eagles. It is not running at full capacity, he revealed. 

“This milestone will hopefully usher in a new generation of eagles who will help repopulate our forests and, in turn, serve as ambassadors for saving many other lifeforms who share the rainforests with them. We invite everyone to get involved to help our country save its national heritage and treasures,” he said.

The Philippine Eagle is listed as a critically endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. According to the organization, there are fewer than 500 eagles belonging to this species left. — Trisha Macas/BM, GMA News