DAVAO CITY- The recent release of a rehabilitated Philippine Eagle
in Mt. Hamiguitan in the province of Davao Oriental is a testament of the
mountain’s importance to biodiversity.
Dennis Salvador, director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation said
choosing Mt. Hamiguitan as the eagle’s new home was it’s a sprawling protected
area of 32,000 hectares made up of forests. Also having been inscribed as
a UNESCO World Heritage Site makes it ideal as a wildlife haven without having
to worry about human disturbance.
Salvador added that the communities’ heightened awareness,
local wildlife protection enforcement and local government commitment makes it
as an ideal new home for Pamana, the name of the rescued eagle.
Pamana, was rescued in Iligan City in 2012 bearing two gunshot
wounds, she was turned over to PEF and rehabilitated in the Philippine Eagle
Center in Davao City.
The fully-recovered eagle was set free on Independence Day (June
12) in Mt. Hamiguitan Range, celebrity television host and anchor Kim Atienza
helped unlock the cage from which Pamana flew to her new home, the untouched
forests of Hamiguitan.
Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon said she welcomes the
release of the eagle into her new home stating that there are about 10
Philippine Eagles nesting in the forests of the province.
“The presence of the
Philippine Eagle in practically all towns of the province is an indicator of
the richness of biodiversity in the area,” the Governor said.
The Governor also reiterated the province’s
commitment in securing the eagle as the local government is doing the necessary
steps to improve protection efforts by regulating the entry of people and
prohibiting mining and logging activities in Mt. Hamiguitan.
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