A green nation for the Philippine eagle

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine eagles Kabayan and Hagpa died only a year after they were released to the wild, further lowering the number of their rapidly vanishing species.

Kabayan was fatally electrocuted in 2005 when it perched on a livewire. Hagpa was shot this October in Misamis Oriental.

“Each death brings us closer to the creature’s extinction, and we’re very close. Only 800 Philippine eagles remain, and this is an optimistic estimate,” said Philippine Eagle Foundation manager for development Noreen Gisela Quiblat. “Without intervention, and if the current trends continue, the Philippine eagle population would disappear in 50 years.”

Conservation efforts are being done throughout the country, primarily by the Philippine Eagle Foundation situated in Mount Apo. As part of its Canon GreenNation campaign, Canon Marketing Phils, Inc. (CMPI) encourages its customers to contribute to the Sagip Agila program through proper disposal of ink cartridges.

“Sagip Agila was created to help the Philippine Eagle Foundation save our endangered national bird,” said CMPI corporate communications manager Margie Escueta.

Support the Sagip Agila project by dropping used toners and empty cartridges in Canon GreenNation collection bins at Canon concept stores and customer care centers. “For every cartridge deposited, P10 will be donated to the Philippine Eagle Foundation,” she said.