PAG-ASA GONE AT 28 💔

 

By Ian Garcia, Davao City

The Philippine Eagle Foundation is sad to announce the passing of beloved Philippine Eagle, Pag-asa.  Pag- asa succumbed to infections associated with Trichomoniasis and Aspergillosis. Both diseases are fatal for raptors. Although treatment was done over a week ago, he continued to deteriorate and died at 8:03 pm on January 6. 

Pag-asa would have turned 29 years old on Jan 15, 2021.  He was the first-ever Philippine Eagle bred and hatched in captivity using the cooperative artificial insemination techniques. Pag-asa’s birth- the culmination of 14 years worth of research, heralded hope for the critically endangered species and the entire conservation mission.

Years after he was hatched, the PEF reached yet another milestone with Pag-asa in the form of his first and only offspring. She was named Mabuhay and was also bred and hatched through CAI. Even after he retired from breeding, Pag-asa lived his life as an icon of hope for Filipinos, young and old, and was a constant inspiration to the people working tirelessly to save our National Bird from extinction.

Pag-asa was gone too soon indeed, but his legacy lives on. (PEF PR)

Race to Save the Philippine Eagle

Re-post of MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR Editorial from Wednesday, September 26, 2012 with friendly permission of publisher Marietta Singco).(

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) continues to dwindle in number despite the valiant effort of some stakeholders, chief of which is the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF). According to the International Union for Consideration of Nature (IUCN), the Eagle qualifies as a Critically Endangered Species because it has "an extremely small population ... owing to extensive deforestation." Decades of unmitigated deforestation to fill the need of a growing human population have rendered the Eagles' habitat unviable, and now they number only between 180 and 500 adult individuals.

"Forest destruction and fragmentation, through commercial timber extraction and shifting cultivation, is the principal long-term threat, "the IUCN says. "Old-growth forest continues to be lost within the eagle's range. Moreover, most remaining lowland forest is leased to logging concessions. Mining applications pose an additional threat." Human activities, especially in Mindanao where the Eagles used to thrive, are driving the national bird to extinction.

Survival of Philippine Eagles

While it is crucial to seek more donors to save the Philippine eagle from extinction, the Philippine Eagle foundation admitted that it is utterly careful in accepting funds for the survival of the country's national bird.

At the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos district near Davao City (where, by the way, one of my nieces is working as a volunteer!), 12 of the 36 Philippine eagles in captivity are still up for adoption.

Dennis Salvador, Philippine Eagle Foundation executive director, told Mindanews, that there are companies that are insistent to support the foundation. But, Salvador clariied that the foundation has a policy in screening their partners, especially if the company is involve in resource extraction.

By the way, former Philippine president Fidel Ramos officially declared the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) as the national bird in 1995.

Meanwhile, real estate developer Avida and entered into a three-years-sponsorship with the foundation and donated 125,000 Pesos to the foundation  for a 12-years-old eagle now known as "Avida".