DENR execs told to observe stricter wildlife monitoring measures

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered environment officials to observe stricter measures in monitoring wildlife following the killing of a mother eagle on Mt. Apo in Davao City Saturday morning, leaving its seven-month-old eaglet behind.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje immediately ordered regional environment officials in Davao City to investigate the incident and seek the assistance of the police and local government in tracking down the perpetrator.

“We are appalled by this news. While we are trying to save endangered Philippine eagles from extinction, there are those undermining our conservation efforts,” Paje said.

He said the eagle, which was apparently shot, was among those being monitored by the DENR and the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) for years.

In a report by the PEF, the decomposing body of the eagle was retrieved on Aug. 14 in Barangay Kapatagan, outside the protection area 10 kilometers from the eagle’s nesting site in Sitio Mitondo, Sibulan, Davao City.

The eagle bore a crack in its keel bone, giving suspicion the bird was shot to death.

The report said the mother eagle left its baby hatchling, prompting the DENR chief to commit a fund assistance to ensure the survival of the young eagle.

The Biodiversity Management Bureau with the PEF will administer supplemental feeding of the eaglet as it is now only being fed by the father.