Organisation: Philippine Eagle Foundation
Project title: Releasing a Philippine Eagle Back to the Bislig KBA
Location: Bislig Key Biodiversity Area, Surgao del Sur, Philippines
Project date: November 2021 to August 2022
Species: Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi
Supported by: Fondation Segré
The challenge
The Philippine Eagle is endemic to the Philippines and is one of the largest birds of prey. Its small and highly threatened population has been at the brink of extinction for the past few decades. Habitat loss due to deforestation from timber extraction and shifting cultivation remain the primary long-term threat to the species. Hunting for food and as bycatch in mammal traps are also some of the recorded threats, while pesticide accumulation may be a potential threat.
Poor recruitment to the breeding population was previously thought to be a key factor in this species’s decline but recent research suggests that the dispersal and survival of juveniles and subadults is of greater concern.
The project
The Philippine Eagle Foundation has rescued, tagged, and released 15 eagles since 2008, of which 6 were successful. They recently rescued a male Philippine Eagle, Rajah, which is believed to be over five years old and likely belongs to a territorial pair. Therefore, it is important to release him back to the area he was rescued as soon as possible.
The aim of this project is to successfully reintroduce and reunite the male eagle with his mate with the hope that they will produce several offspring contributing to the wild population. Rajah will have a GPS/GSM transmitter attached and released at a suitable site at the Bislig Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Trained Indigenous and local forest guards will conduct patrols and post-release monitoring for 10 months. It is hoped that the success of the project will support the expansion of the protected area network to include this KBA.
Project reports
Photo credit: Philippine Eagle Foundation
The ASAP Species Rapid Action Fund is supported by:
