A Philippine eagle chick has been hatched at the National Bird Breeding Sanctuary (NBBS) in Toril, Davao City on Monday, November 11, 2024.

According to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Philippine Eagle Chick No. 30 was hatched following a 56-day incubation period and through the “help out” method.

“The decision to use the ‘help out’ method was not made lightly,” NBBS Facility Manager and PEF’s Conservation Breeding Expert, Domingo Tadena, said.

“It was a calculated measure based on years of experience and the chick’s status during the later stages of incubation. Without our intervention, the risk of losing this hatching to suffocation was high. This chick’s survival represents not just a successful breeding cycle,” he added.

PEF said the chick was a product of artificial insemination from its parents “Pinpin,” the female eagle who naturally incubated the egg for the first seven days, and “Sinag,” the semen donor that resides at the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC).

“This hatching marks a historic first for the NBBS, occurring just months after its establishment,” Tadena said.

“It proves that with cutting-edge technology, cross-cultural collaboration, and unwavering dedication, we can create new hope for the Philippine Eagle and ensure that future generations,” he added.

PEF added that Chick No. 30 marks a new chapter in the fight to conserve the Philippine eagle, a species facing threats from habitat loss and hunting.

“This achievement underscores the unique challenges faced by specialists in breeding our National Bird. They are not only difficult to pair but they also only mature and become productive after a long time. One necessarily needs to invest time and resources to make it work. But more importantly, besides skill, knowledge and experience, it is the dedication and passion of our team that made this possible,” PEF Executive Director, Dennis Salvador, said.