Regal eagle Bighani turns one

It has grown into a magnificent bird.

Its sex has yet to be determined, but Bighani, who turns one year old on Dec. 7, has blossomed into a regal eagle.

Bighani is the latest bird of prey to join the eagle population of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in Davao City.

Tagged Eagle #22, it was hatched on Dec. 7, 2007.

Allied Botanic Corp. (ABC), the first Filipino-owned vegetable breeding company, later adopted it.

ABC named the eaglet Bighani, after the Bighani Super Sweet Corn F1 the company had bred. The variety is the first Filipino-bred super sweet corn in the country.

Under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the adoption of the bird signed by PEF executive director Dennis Salvador and ABC president Willy U. Co, the upkeep of Bighani for the next six years will be underwritten by ABC.

The agribusiness corporation has provided a cash grant of P750,000 (P125,000 per year) for the food and veterinary care of the rare bird, which it has adopted until July 2, 2014, to the point of the bird’s maturity.

ABC has its main office in Quezon City and a 23-hectare research complex in Tayug, Pangasinan.

The PEF is a private, non-stock, nonprofit organization committed to accelerating the captive breeding program of the Philippine eagle to replenish the wild eagle population now threatened with extinction and acquire resources needed to accomplish the objective.

Under the agreement, ABC has also committed to support PEF’s wildlife conservation initiatives.

The company is allowed to use photographs, footage, and graphic icons of its adopted eagle for the firm’s international and external communications program.

In case of the early demise of the adopted bird, the PEF will replace the eagle with another for the purpose of adoption continuity.