Phl Eagle bred in captivity turns 2

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Remember Mabuhay?

The 25th Philippine Eagle bred in captivity by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Mabuhay turned two yesterday, marking a new milestone for the success of the organization’s captive-breeding program.

According to the PEF – which runs the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Calinan district, this city – Mabuhay continues to be in good condition as shown by her hearty appetite and increase in weight.

Mabuhay is the first and only offspring of Pag-asa, the second-generation captive-bred Philippine Eagle. Pag-asa is the first case of successful captive breeding of Philippine Eagles through cooperative artificial insemination. The success of the program gives hope that saving their kind from extinction is achievable.

It took Pag-asa 21 years to sire an offspring because of his sporadic semen production. This means the conservation-breeding team had to get the timing right before delivering Pag-asa’s semen to Kalinawan, his partner.

“We hope another Philippine Eaglet will be produced in the next breeding season,” PEF curator Anna Mae Sumaya said.

Thanks to an anonymous “ninang” (godmother) who adopted her since she was only a week old through the PEF’s adoption program, Mabuhay’s veterinary care, maintenance and food are being provided for. Mabuhay’s ninang gives over P150,000 as financial support annually and sponsored Mabuhay’s second hatch day celebration.

Mabuhay’s hatch day was also an opportunity for the PEF to raise awareness on the conservation of the country’s national bird and its habitat.

A Keeper Talk, where Philippine Eagle biology and ecology are discussed, was conducted as part of the program marking Mabuhay’s birthday yesterday.

The PEF hopes that Mabuhay will contribute to the increase of the Philippine Eagle population when she reaches sexual maturity, that is, at six or seven years old.

PEF executive director Dennis Salvador stressed the need to disseminate more information on the importance of saving the country’s forests to address the dwindling number of Philippine Eagles.

There are reportedly only less than 500 pairs of Philippine Eagles in the country at present, including those that have been sighted in the wild. Meanwhile, there are around 30 Philippine Eagles kept in captivity at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos.