Airline firm helps preserve eagles, adopts “Mindanao”

CEBU, Philippines - Being one in the advocacy to preserve the country’s national bird, Cebu Pacific Air adopted the 13-year-old Philippine Eagle named “Mindanao” last Thursday at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City.

For five years, Cebu Pacific will be shouldering the food as well as the veterinary care for “Mindanao,” which is considered an Ambassador for Education at the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

“Starting October 15, 2015, Cebu Pacific, the country’s leading airline, takes Philippine Eagle ‘Mindanao’ under its wing. The adoption of ‘Mindanao’ strengthens the airline’s commitment to act on environmental conservation issues that are greatly linked to the country’s rich biodiversity,” said Apple Ignacio, director of products of Cebu Pacific.

“Mindanao” is one-meter tall, has six to seven foot wing span and weighs 5.2 kilos. He is the sole eagle that can tolerate humans at a distance of two meters, thus the title Ambassador for Education since he is helping the center raise awareness to the public.

Ignacio said the airline believes the advocacy of the PEF in terms of conservation of the country’s national bird, also one of the endangered species in the world.

“We also want to encourage people to join in the discussion so that more people would be aware na they are only 400 pairs na lang ang natira and we want to help the foundation kasi they are taking care of them,” she said.

Through the partnership, the airline is helping the foundation’s Conservation Breeding and Conservation Education initiatives in preventing the complete extinction of eagles.

Among the initiatives is the breeding and re-introducing of the raptors to their natural habitat.

“Mindanao” is among those eagles which have benefited the captive breeding program of the foundation.

PEF executive director Dennis Salvador said this breeding program is very helpful to help augment and complement the population in the wild.

He thanked the Cebu Pacific for adopting one of the eagles.

“We don’t get any government support. Over the years, that’s merely how we made the program survive especially the breeding because basically, there is really no money available to do this,” he said.

Salvador said shooting, trapping and deforestation are the threats to survival of the eagles in the wild.

Even with laws protecting them, Salvador said Philippine eagles are still being shot or captured. In a year, at least one eagle is being shot to death, he said.

The eight-hectare foundation has 33 eagles, including “Mindanao.” Three eagles have not been adopted yet, said Salvador.

With this, PEF and Cebu Pacific Air urged the Filipino citizens to contribute in the conservation of these raptors.

PEF has various categories in adopting an eagle: P100,000 membership for corporate and P15,000 for individual and P125,000 for multi-year (three to five years) adoption, while P150,000 for one year only.  (FREEMAN)