7 eagles up for adoption

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – At least seven Philippine eagles are available for adoption at the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) here in Barangay Malagos, Calinan district.

Earlier, a giant raptor named “Phoenix” was adopted by independent fuel company Phoenix Petroleum Philippines.

The adoption of eagles at the center is part of the captive breeding program and wildlife conservation initiatives of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) to replenish the country’s eagle population now threatened with extinction.

PEF executive director Dennis Salvador told The STAR the adoption program has helped a lot in ensuring the survival of the eagles under the care of the center.

At present, the center keeps 34 eagles including Phoenix, whose adoption will run for five years as part of the oil firm’s advocacy on environmental conservation efforts.

Phoenix was previously known as “Sultan,” a 15-year-old male eagle that arrived at the Malagos center in 2005 from Sultan Kudarat.

Sultan was introduced to another eagle, “Zamboanga,” in 2007 to become his breeding mate as part of the gene pool of the eagle center.

Phoenix Petroleum and PEF, a non-profit organization that operates the PEC, signed the agreement for the eagle’s five-year adoption during a simple ceremony held this week at the Phoenix bulk depot here.