MIDSALIP, Zambosur: Wikipedia
is right, the Philippine eagle, also known as the monkey-eating eagle, is
critically endangered, mainly due to massive loss of habitat due to
deforestation in most of its range.
Though
endemic to our country, the Philippine eagle may soon no longer be found in the
wild, unless direct intervention is taken.
The
largest number of eagles resides on Mindanao, while two pairs can be found in
the most isolated barangay here, said Mayor Liwaya A. Paras.
They
even named the parent eagles Duweldo and Dyan and their eaglet, Jimrix.
Paras
said another eagle, recovering from an injury, was found in Brgy. Pili and is being
taken cared by DENR workers for the while.
Paras
disclosed that Dakayakan officials, in doing their part in protecting the diminishing
numbers of the Philippine eagles, drafted an ordinance declaring their village as
critically protected habitat.
The
Sangguniang Bayan also issued a resolution declaring the whole of Sitio Mt.
Maragang an eco-tourism park and a critical habitat of the Philippine eagle in Dakayakan.
It
can be learned that Philippine eagles are threatened primarily by deforestation
through logging and expanding agriculture as well as poaching.
Paras
said they have such local ordinances strictly prohibiting any person from
entering the premises of Mt. Maragang to preserve the dying out species.
The
presence of the eagles in Dakayakan and Pili is a sign that woodlands still
exist and thrive in the area, the mayor added, saying she too went to the area
to see the eagles.
Seeing
them stretch out their wings and fly thrills you from the stress of hiking for an
hour just to see them, she ended. (WITH REPORTS FROM GIDEON CORGUE)