Philippine Eagle at Quezon City parks and wildlife center

MANILA, Philippines - A 29-year-old Philippine eagle is now on display at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center in Quezon City to help raise awareness on eagle conservation efforts in the county.

The five-kilo Philippine eagle named “Girlie” first arrived at the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) in Quezon City in September from the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao.

Girlie was quarantined at the PAWB Rescue Center to allow her to adjust to the city weather. 

“We hope to attract more interest from the public about the Philippine Eagle as well as encourage city dwellers and the general public to protect the environment to help in the preservation of the Philippine Eagle, which is a critically endangered animal,” said PAWB director Dr. Mundita Lim.

Lim said Girlie briefly suffered from pneumonia but recovered immediately. 

Girlie was turned over to the Philippine Eagle Foundation in Cagayan de Oro in 1982.

Now 29 years old, Girlie is no longer productive. “If she is still productive then she can still be used at the Philippine Eagle Center for breeding.  We cannot undertake breeding here because the city is not conducive for such activity, the birds will only be disturbed,” Lim said.

“So Girlie would now be used for awareness and education purposes, that’s why we placed her here.  We are making the most of the remaining years of her life in our efforts to save the species from total extinction,” she added. 

The life span of a Philippine Eagle is 40 years.

Last week, Girlie was released into an 800-square meter open cage, the construction of which was funded by a P400,000 donation from boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

The Philippine Eagle, which is found only in Philippine forests particularly in the Sierra Madre ranges and Cordillera Region, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.

It was declared an endangered species in 1965 under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List.

Under Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, hunting and killing of the Philippine Eagle is punishable with fines ranging from P100, 000 to P1 million, imprisonment of a minimum of six years and one day to a maximum of 12 years.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said there are now around 400 pairs of Philippine Eagles in the wild.